India’s health to be put to check towards in-form Sri Lanka
Big image – India would possibly rotate gamers
Two weeks in the past in Bengaluru, India’s Asia Cup-bound squad had exhaustive health assessments to examine their ranges of preparedness for the cricket developing over the following three months.
On Tuesday, the gamers’ health ranges can be put to check as India return to the R Premadasa Stadium – the place they’ve spent a lot of the previous two days – to tackle Sri Lanka a bit of over 12 hours after beating Pakistan in a recreation that was performed over two days due to rain. When they received, they received by a file 228 runs, which has vaulted their internet run-rate into orbit, and one other win is more likely to take them by means of to Sunday’s last.
Coming into the event, India had a number of inquiries to reply.
Can Ishan Kishan bat within the center order if required? He answered it fairly emphatically, hitting an 82-ball 81 towards Pakistan in Pallekele to open the event.
Sure, Jasprit Bumrah eased in properly towards Ireland, however can he unleash beast mode towards high quality batting line-ups? On Monday, he answered that by taking out Imam-ul-Haq in a fiery opening spell that arrange India’s magnificent defence.
How match-ready is KL Rahul? He hadn’t been protecting wickets till a few days previous to the sport towards Pakistan. And can he undergo the rigours in such testing situations upon his return after being out of motion since early May?
Not meant to play initially – he was drafted in solely after Shreyas Iyer needed to exit following again spasms simply minutes earlier than the toss towards Pakistan – Rahul marked his comeback with a shocking run-a-ball century (he ended with 111 not out in 106 balls) and put up 223 in an unbroken stand with Virat Kohli for the third wicket.
That wasn’t it. He saved for all however the first few overs of Pakistan’s innings to dismiss any considerations there might have been.
On Tuesday, India might wish to try to reply a pair extra questions. How about giving Suryakumar Yadav some motion? Is Iyer match sufficient to fit again in? Can India look to relaxation a number of of their frontline quick bowlers and provides Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna some recreation time?
Sri Lanka have had a few days off to relaxation and recuperate following their hard-fought win over Bangladesh. They uncorked a gem in Sadeera Samarawickrama, who after years of failing to construct on his early promise confirmed indicators of maturity in a clutch knock.
Kusal Mendis supplied the calmness within the batting, and the bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, lent a contact of magic within the face of a mounting problem from Bangladesh’s center order. Dasun Shanaka, who has more and more been going through the sort of stress Daren Sammy confronted as captain when it got here to proving his utility and price, contributed fantastically with the ball.
It wasn’t fairly a whole efficiency towards Bangladesh, however the bowlers held agency at totally different instances below stress to bail the aspect out. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka face a rampant batting line-up that may give them extra cues on the place they stand as a bowling group with larger battles developing.
Not to overlook, Sri Lanka at the moment are on a streak of 13 males’s ODI wins in a row, second solely to Australia’s 21 in 2003… can they take it to 14?
Form information
Sri Lanka WWWWW (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
India WWNWL
In the highlight
In March 2021, across the time he was in line for the ODI vice-captaincy, Iyer was out for six months with a shoulder harm. By the time he returned, he had not simply misplaced that chance but additionally his IPL captaincy to Rishabh Pant at Delhi Capitals. Earlier this 12 months, a again harm that wanted surgical procedure put his World Cup desires unsure. But he recovered inside six months. But one recreation in, he has been laid low once more, this time by again spasms. Is he prepared? Can he pull up effectively and show his health in a correct match atmosphere?
Ever since he introduced himself with a five-for towards Australia on the Under-19 World Cup final 12 months, left-arm-spinner Dunith Wellalage has been touted to do massive issues as an allrounder. Only 12 ODIs outdated, Wellalage has already impressed many along with his calmness and management. That Sri Lanka discover themselves within the Super Four is partly as a consequence of his all-round efforts – 33 not out and a couple of for 36, together with the wicket of Hashmatullah Shahidi in a tense end – towards Afghanistan. Tuesday can be a possibility to construct on his thrilling initiation.
Team news
India might wish to give an opportunity to a few of their reserves. This might carry Suryakumar and Shami into the combination. It is not clear but if Iyer can be match to return. Sri Lanka might not wish to repair one thing that is not damaged given they’re already with out a number of first-choice bowlers following accidents.
India (possible XI): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Suryakumar Yadav/Ishan Kishan, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Matheesha Pathirana
Pitch and situations
It is anticipated to stay sultry, with humidity more likely to be a large issue. Evening showers are forecast, though if there’s one factor we have now came upon over the previous week, it is futile making an attempt to foretell climate patterns. It is not clear but if a recent floor can be used for this match. Either approach, given the pitch can be totally coated till about midday – rain or no rain – there may very well be some moisture for the quick bowlers to try to exploit first up, earlier than situations boost for them below lights.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo