Sri Lanka vs India Prediction: India clean sweep Sri Lanka in T20s

Sri Lanka and India are going head to head in the Match 1 of One Day Series at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 2nd August 2024. India clean sweep Sri Lanka in the recently concluded T20 series. Who will win this game of cricket?

Sri Lanka has an uphill task against a good Indian team at home, having won just one game out of 12 ODIs. Much will depend on how the newly appointed captain, Asalanka, can inspire his team to punch above their weight in this series. A trio of Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis must do the hard yards toward giving a good platform with top-order batting. Nissanka was in good form in the T20I series, having made 137 runs in 3 innings, and will look to take his success into the ODIs as well. The middle order will be banking on Akila Dananjaya and Kamindu Mendis to contribute with both bat and ball. The bowling attack will be led by the spin twins Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, with pace options in Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dunith Wellalage. There is a question mark over Pathirana's availability due to the shoulder injury he picked up in the T20I series.

Charith Asalanka (C), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Akila Dananjaya, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Some key players who were missing in the T20I series return to form the Indian ODI squad, which includes captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav. The upcoming series will also witness the ODI debuts of Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana.

Rohit and Virat have not played ODI cricket since the 2023 World Cup and will be keen to get back into form with the ICC Champions Trophy next year. The two batsmen have great records against Sri Lanka—Kohli has scored 2,594 runs in 51 innings at an average of 63.26, while Rohit has scored 1,864 runs at an average of 45.46 with two double hundreds.

Shreyas Iyer, who was in good nick during the 2023 World Cup, and KL Rahul turn out to be key men for India in the middle order. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag is likely to fill in the all-rounder spot and finisher after impressing during the T20I series.

Kuldeep Yadav will be the lone spinner, while Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace attack. Both of them have a good record—either took more than 40 wickets in the format last year. Arshdeep Singh, known for his T20I exploits, and Harshit Rana, who is yet to make his ODI debut, are expected to round out the pace bowling unit.

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana.

The recent T20 series whitewash that Sri Lanka suffered at home must have been a huge blow to the team morale, especially when it happens with recurring instances of batting collapse. This makes them vulnerable as they face off against India once again, with Sri Lanka having failed to defeat India in their last six ODIs. On the other hand, India look stronger with some key players coming back into the fold and a well-rounded batting lineup coupled with the threat of Kuldeep Yadav. With these contrasting fortunes, India is expected to come good in the first ODI and take a 1-0 lead as they have emerged clear favorites.