Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma commented that the pitch looked good and he was comfortable with batting second.
The Men in Blue had dominated the T20I series, winning all three matches. However, the hosts are eager to make a comeback in the upcoming ODIs, aiming to put up a stronger fight against the in-form Indian team. The match promises to be an exciting contest as Sri Lanka looks to turn the tide in their favor on home soil.
Janith Liyanage Dismissal
During the match, Janith Liyanage was dismissed by Axar Patel. Axar bowled a delivery that angled in before turning away. Liyanage attempted to advance down the track but only managed to edge the ball. Initially, KL Rahul missed the stumping opportunity, but Rohit Sharma at first slip was alert and caught the ball. The on-field umpire took a moment before raising his finger to confirm the dismissal. Liyanage chose not to review the decision, but replays later indicated that he had not actually edged the ball. Instead, KL Rahul had missed a stumping, and if Liyanage had reviewed the decision, he would have been declared not out. Thus, Liyanage missed a chance to continue his innings.
Sri Lanka are now struggling at 183/7 with India having a firm grip on the match. The pitch is turning and the Indian spinners have bowled tight lines putting constant pressure on the batters.
Asalanka announced that Sri Lanka is giving pacer Mohamed Shiraz his debut, considering the pitch conditions. For India, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav are included in the playing eleven, while Shivam Dube will play his first ODI since 2019. Additionally, Indian players will wear black armbands to honor the memory of former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday due to blood cancer.
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka XI:Â Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz
India XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
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