IND vs SL 2017, 3rd ODI: Match Prediction

The Men in Blue made a stunning comeback in the 2^nd ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, as they thrashed the visitors by 141 runs to level the series 1-1.

The day belonged to Hitman of Indian Cricket, Rohit Sharma who rewrote history and became the first player in the history of the game to smash more than two double centuries in One Day cricket.

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Rohit scored his first century in 115 deliveries and reached his 16^th ODI ton in only the 40^th over. From there on, it was carnage from the blade of Rohit, as he kept depositing the Lankan pacers all around the IS Bindra stadium in Mohali.

Rohit had earlier smashed just a solitary six en route to his century, and later he shifted gears and started clearing the ropes on a consistent basis. He hit as many as 11 sixes in the last ten overs which ensured India reached a mammoth total of 392 for four in their allotted 20 overs.

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The only bright spot for the visitors from the encounter was the century from their former captain Angelo Mathews albeit in a losing cause. He was the lone warrior standing, as wickets kept falling at the other end. All the bowlers were treated with disdain by Rohit especially in the death overs, and the bowling analysis read a sorry tale for the Lankans.

Team News

India

The home team will be looking to go in the decider with an unchanged XI. The team looks balanced, and in spite of a few glitches in the middle order, the hosts will back themselves to win yet another series in their den. Barring Rohit Sharma’s innings, it was a fluent knock from Shreyas Iyer which helped India set a commendable platform for the final ten overs. He made 83 and struck some delightful shots in the process.

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Washington Sundar who made his debut in the 2^nd ODI might retain his place for the decider, as he can also contribute with the bat lower down the order. The bowling line-up looks settled and will look to come all guns blazing in the all-important decider on Sunday.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sri Lanka

The visitors have a lot to think ahead of the decider. Their bowling line-up which had India on the mats in the opening ODI in Dharamshala came in for some special treatment in the Mohali game. The pacers were smashed all around the park and Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal, in particular, were at the receiving end of a Rohit onslaught.

The batting department isn’t consistent either which has led to their downfall in limited-overs cricket in the recent past. Despite Mathews’ century in the previous encounter, the visitors were never in the chase, and it looked quite evident the former skipper was playing for his milestone.

Pacer Dushmantha Chameera who is in the squad might be brought in for the deciding clash at the expense of Pradeep.

Predicted XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera

Match Predictions

Despite a humiliating defeat in the opening clash at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, India showed their fighting character by making an incredible comeback in the 2^nd encounter winning by 141 runs. They haven’t lost a single bilateral series in the last couple of years or so, and hence they are the overwhelming favourites to clinch the series at Vishakapatnam in the series decider on Sunday. With immense depth in both batting and the bowling department, there is no doubt about the fact the Men in Blue will be on their way to yet another series victory.

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