ICC World Cup 2019: Match 44, India vs Sri Lanka – Match Prediction

India will look to keep up the winning momentum going when they face Sri Lanka in the last group stage game of the ICC World Cup 2019 on July 6 (Saturday) at Headingley in Leeds.

Sri Lanka have lacked application in their batting at the start of the tournament which has put them out of the competition early. Dimuth Karunaratne has led the team well, but they have failed to come out as a unit with each player backing the other. Sri Lanka has found a great batsman in young Avishka Fernando who will serve their cricket for long. Legend Lasith Malinga will be playing his last World Cup game and will aim to finish on a high and halt India’s dominant run. He has been their star over the years, and all the cricketers will look to give him a good send-off.

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On the other hand, India’s batting order has looked in sublime form with Rohit Sharma leading the pack. He has already struck four centuries in the tournament and will look to keep up the excellent form alongside skipper Virat Kohli who is yet to score a hundred in this World Cup. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on MS Dhoni, who has struggled to get going with the bat in the last few games. The former India skipper will look to hit the strides before the knockout stage. India’s bowling has been relatively good with Jasprit Bumrah doing an excellent job so far. The spinners; however, will look to raise their game against Sri Lanka before the semifinals.

Date and Venue: India vs Sri Lanka, July 6 (Saturday) from 3:00 PM IST, at Headingley in Leeds

Match Prediction

India and Sri Lanka have produced close matches whenever they have gone up against each other in the fifty-over format. The neighbours have met each other eight times previously in the World Cup with the Men in Blues losing four times and managing to win only three. The last time they met was in the 2011 ICC World Cup final where India beat Sri Lanka to win the trophy after 28 years.

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Dimuth Karunaratne & Co will be keen to complete the revenge for their loss which dates to eight years back but going by the current form, India will start as the outright favourites to win their last league game and march towards the semifinals.