FIVE KEY BATTLES
India will hope to complete their terrific run when they take on Sri Lanka in a five-match ODI series. The visitors won the Test series 3-0. Here’s a look at the five key battles.
LASITH MALINGA VS VIRAT KOHLI
The clash between the two prolific players will be an interesting one to watch out for. Kohli, who scored a century in the first Test, would want to have a few knocks to show for as his three other innings accounted for just 58 runs. Malinga, on the other hand, is an experienced customer who knows exactly what the Indian skipper has up his sleeves.
KUSAL MENDIS VS BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR
Sri Lanka’s Test performance was shambolic. Yet, there were a few positives in the name of Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne. Mendis struck a fantastic ton in the second innings of the Colombo Test. Sri Lanka would hope he continues to play in same fashion but India will be aware that he has a particular weakness against pacers and has fallen to them on four of the last six occasions. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar having the ability to swing it both ways, it might not be an easy task.
ANGELO MATHEWS VS HARDIK PANDYA
Both of them bat lower down the order, come in as first change in bowling and have often bowled at the death. Hardik Pandya, who recently struck his maiden hundred in Test cricket, would want to build on his role as a handy all-rounder while Angelo Mathews would be well aware of the kind of responsibility he has to shoulder for the team.
UPUL THARANGA VS KULDEEP YADAV
With five wickets in his debut Test on foreign soil, Kuldeep Yadav would be confident as he heads into the ODI series. With R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being rested, Kuldeep should be an easy pick. With his natural ability of taking the ball away from left-handed batsmen, Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga might face a tough time facing him.
LAKSHAN SANDAKAN VS SHIKHAR DHAWAN
In his last five knocks against Sri Lanka, Shikhar Dhawan has notched up three centuries — two in the recently concluded Test series and one in the Champions Trophy. Dhawan would look to continue to bat in the same manner. However, he would try and avoid facing Lakshan Sandakan, who has the knack of troubling left-handed batsmen.