Sri Lanka vs India Prediction: Sri Lanka shocked everyone with a win

Sri Lanka and India are going head to head in the Match 3 of One Day Series at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 7th August 2024. Sri Lanka shocked everyone in the second game. Who will win this game of cricket?

Many people were actually surprised by Sri Lanka's victory over India in the ongoing ODI series because the home team missed a couple of its key bowlers, and obviously, the strength of India. For sure, Sri Lanka was abetted by slow pitch conditions, which made life difficult for the Indian batsmen. After the first match ended in a tie, Sri Lanka played well to take the second ODI by 32 runs.

At 136-6, Sri Lanka were in a difficult position in their batting innings on the slow pitch of the R Premadasa Stadium. Then, a vital partnership between Wellalage and Mendis took them to the fighting total of 240-9. Its strong start was broken, and further good bowling by Jeffrey Vandersay limited India to 208 runs.

Although individually, they did not compile high scores, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, and Kusal Mendis proved to be valuable contributors at the top order on difficult pitches. Captain Charith Asalanka has been leading from the front with effective bowling, taking 6 wickets at 3.29 runs per over.

Wellalage has been a star for Sri Lanka, impressing with both bat and ball against India. With Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the XI, Sri Lanka is likely to go in with an unchanged eleven. Their spin bowlers have been brilliant, and they could make life tough for India's uncertain batsmen over the next two games.

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis wk, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka c, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay

Team India had a rough time out in the ongoing ODI series as their batters have not been able to get going due to the slow and spinning tracks. Skipper Rohit Sharma has been the main stay with two successive half-centuries while Shubman Gill has played quite some supporting knocks. But the middle order fell like ninepins when the openers fell on both occasions.

While promising starts in all the games, the experienced India batters—Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul—have been uncomfortable against the Lankan spinners and lacked confidence in their stroke-making. Axar Patel has single-handedly shown fight with both bat and ball, while others failed to turn up on any given day.

There are speculations that Riyan Parag might be brought into the team for the final ODI to strengthen the middle-order with his all-round skills in batting and spin bowling. India will also bank on Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Axar making a telling contribution if they have to level the series.

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube/ Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

Sri Lanka has the opportunity to make this a momentous occasion, winning a series against India. Indeed, the visitors have dominated with both bat and ball throughout this series. Although the firepower may not quite be there, their batters proved to be more persevering, and their bowlers ensured that making the most of the conditions did a lot of damage in the Indian batting line-up.

Conversely, this gives the talented Indian team an opportunity to test themselves in the series. Though their bowling has been decent, they have let go of advantages in both ODIs. Indian batsmen need to be more resolute and situation-specific if they are going to turn the tide in their favor. Despite being on the wrong side of the odds, India is a quality side and should learn from the mistakes made in order to turn the tables in the final match.

That will be a well-fought game, but in the end, it's India who will have the last laugh. We would go ahead and predict an Indian victory in the match and a 1-1 levelling of the series.