India dominated Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International (ODI) in Guwahati, thanks to a strong batting effort. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got things going well, and Virat Kohli capitalised with his 73rd international century. India finally set a big mark, which the Lankan batters were unable to chase, losing by 67 runs.
Meanwhile, despite India’s big victory, there are still doubts about the bowling unit. Yuzvendra Chahal failed to make a difference, conceding 58 runs in his nine overs, while Mohammed Shami allowed 67 runs in his nine overs. Even though Umran Malik took three wickets, he leaked runs, which has to be improved if India is to win their third ODI World Cup.
India’s predicted starting XI for the second One-Day International against Sri Lanka –
Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma open the innings
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Despite hitting a double-century in his last ODI, Ishan Kishan was pulled from the starting XI to allow Shubman Gill more playing time. The teenager rewarded the trust by scoring 70 points on 60 shots in the first game. Gill can ultimately solidify his status as an opener for the 2019 ODI World Cup if he maintains his current form.
In the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit needed to take charge, as he did in the previous encounter. The captain led by example, scoring 83 off 67 to give India a superb start in the previous encounter. If he can maintain his current form, India will be in a much better position for the World Cup.
Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul strengthen the middle order
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Virat Kohli is probably one of the best players in this format, and India relies on him every time he bats. With two back-to-back ODI hundreds, the 34-year-old would feel optimistic about his chances in the forthcoming matches. He was named Player of the Match in the first match for his century and would want to replicate that performance.
Shreyas Iyer completed 2022 as India’s best ODI run-scorer. Despite a bright start in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, the 28-year-old failed to score big. He was out to Dhananjaya de Silva after scoring 28 off 24 balls. Despite having established himself in ODI cricket, Shreyas cannot rest easy since there are several players waiting in the wings to replace him in the starting XI. As a result, he must perform well in the second and maintain this level of performance in order to secure a spot in the starting XI.
KL Rahul was dismissed as India’s vice-captain in the 50-over format after an unimpressive year with the bat in 2022. His status in the playing XI was also under scrutiny, but batting at number five, the wicketkeeper-batter was able to contribute in the opening ODI. He scored 39 points on 29 shots and made several solid shots, but he has to convert those starts.
Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel form the all-rounder duo
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Hardik Pandya was named vice-captain of the squad after demonstrating his leadership abilities. The all-rounder performed well in the T20 format but struggled in the first ODI. He batted for 14 runs and gave up 33 runs in six overs for one wicket, Chamika Karunaratne.
Axar Patel was outstanding in the T20I series but fell short in the first ODI. The southpaw batted just nine times and gave up 58 runs in ten overs. In the process, he also failed to pick a wicket. Axar may find himself on the bench whenever Ravindra Jadeja becomes available. Thus, in order to alter that, he must consistently provide high-quality performances.
Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, and Yuzvendra Chahal form the bowling attack
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In the last encounter, the trio of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Umran Malik performed well. Siraj was frugal and took two wickets, while Umran took three wickets and allowed 57 runs in his eight overs. Mohammed Shami looked sluggish in his first encounter in a long time, but the experienced pacer has the potential to turn things around. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he must lead the bowling unit, and he is anticipated to improve given the conditions at Eden Gardens generally favour pacers.
On the other side, this may be Yuzvendra Chahal’s final chance to shine. With Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings, the leg-spinner can’t afford to put on a bad show. As a result, he must resolve the problem and return stronger in the series’ second encounter.
