Here is India’s Playing XI for first ODI against Sri Lanka

Colombo: The three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka is going to start in Colombo from tomorrow. The first ODI match will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from 2:30 pm tomorrow. For the first time after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy, legendary batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be seen on the cricket field. Rohit Sharma will return as captain in the ODI series. Some other big players have also returned for the ODI series.

Opening Combination 

For the first ODI against Sri Lanka, vice-captain Shubman Gill will open the innings with captain Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill can give Team India a great start with their aggressive batting. Rohit Sharma will like the ground of Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium very much. Rohit Sharma can score a century by hitting fours and sixes on this ground. At the same time, Shubman Gill is also in great form and he can wreak havoc with his bat in the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

No. 3

Star batsman Virat Kohli will bat at number 3 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Once Virat Kohli is set, he destroys the bowling attack of any team. Virat Kohli will play an ODI match for the first time after the 2023 World Cup final. Virat Kohli has so far scored 13848 runs in 280 innings of 292 ODIs at an excellent average of 58.68. Virat Kohli has scored 50 centuries and 72 half-centuries during this period. Virat Kohli’s best score in ODI international career has been 183 runs.  

Selection of Team India’s playing XI will not be easy for captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir. Let’s take a look at which players will be included in India’s playing XI in the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

Number 4 

Shreyas Iyer will bat at number 4 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Shreyas Iyer is a very skilled middle order batsman in ODI International cricket. Shreyas Iyer has so far scored 2383 runs in 54 innings of 59 ODI matches at an average of 49.65. Shreyas Iyer has scored 5 centuries and 18 half-centuries during this period. Shreyas Iyer’s best score in ODI International career is 128 runs.  

Number 5 and Wicketkeeper 

KL Rahul will come out to bat at number-5 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. KL Rahul can also play the role of wicketkeeper. In such a situation, captain Rohit Sharma may be forced to drop wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant from the playing XI. KL Rahul played the role of wicketkeeper batsman very well in the World Cup 2023. KL Rahul is adept at scoring runs quickly on the basis of his explosive batting. Sri Lanka will be most threatened by KL Rahul. It will be very difficult for the Sri Lankan team to stop KL Rahul and set the field against him. 

Number 6 

Team India’s deadly all-rounder Shivam Dubey can come to bat at number 6 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Shivam Dubey has a great talent of hitting sixes in the middle overs and death overs. Shivam Dubey plays spin very well and hits long sixes. Shivam Dubey also bowls medium pace. In such a situation, Riyan Parag will have to sit out of the playing eleven.

Spin bowler

Akshar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav can be included in the playing eleven as spin bowlers. Left arm spin bowling all-rounder Akshar Patel can create a storm with the ball and bat. At the same time, Kuldeep Yadav has more than one deadly spin variations. In such a situation, Washington Sundar will have to sit out of the playing eleven. 

These will be fast bowlers 

Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana will be selected in the playing eleven for the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana will prove to be very dangerous for the Sri Lankan batsmen. In such a situation, Khalil Ahmed will have to sit out of the playing eleven. 

India’s playing eleven for the first ODI could be like this 

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.   

India vs Sri Lanka

ODI series schedule (Indian time):

1st ODI, Aug 2, 2:30 PM, Colombo 

2nd ODI, Aug 4, 2:30 PM, Colombo

3rd ODI, Aug 7, 2:30 PM, Colombo