Best playing 11 of India-Sri Lanka ODI series ft. Rohit Sharma and Dunith Wellalage
This would be the first time in many years that a combined India-Sri Lanka playing 11 will have just three Indians. It's a testament to how good the home side were when they defeated their stronger neighbors in Colombo 2-0 in the recent ODI series — their first bilateral series win in 27 years (since 1997).
It's also a testament to how unsettled and undercooked India were, with most batters struggling to reach even 30s and 40s, let alone the big hundreds that their fans expect. The bowlers, too, just looked out of place without Jasprit Bumrah, as if they had never prepared to take wickets on turning tracks.
Both teams had new coaching staff in play but while Sanath Jayasuriya extracted the best out of his injury-marred squad, Gautam Gambhir struggled to fit in the 11 pieces despite being close to full strength.
Check out the combined 11 below as it tries to reflect what transpired in the historic series.
Best playing 11 of India-Sri Lanka ODI series
Top-order: Rohit Sharma, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka
Rohit Sharma was the best opener in the series, scoring 157 runs at an average of over 52 and a 140-plus strike rate. His aggressive starts, including two half-centuries, consistently laid great foundations for India but as soon as he got out, the team crumbled, failing to make use of the extra balls and time.
He'll be joined by Avishka Fernando (137 runs), who was decent in the first two games but scored a brilliant 96 — the highest score in the series — in the final game to win his team the match.
His partner Pathum Nissanka also scored 101 runs and finished fourth on the runs chart among top-order batters and fifth overall. His maturity and excellent game against spin should allow him to adjust to number three.
Middle-order: Kusal Mendis (WK), Charith Asalanka (C) and Washington Sundar
The respective middle orders caused issues for both India and Sri Lanka in this series but even here, the hosts found more attrition and fight.
Kusal Mendis featured at number three but wouldn't mind shifting to number four for the sake of balance in this combined 11. He scored 103 runs in the three matches and was excellent against spin, using his feet, showing off sweeps, and holding the innings when needed
Charith Asalanka was superb as an all-rounder as well as the captain. He'll slot in at number five to add spine to this batting line-up, while also providing the second fast-bowling option, with his six wickets at an average of 8.67.
Washington Sundar will come in at six. He was great with the ball — five wickets at 21 — but also looked decent with the bat in a couple of innings, compared to the Indian middle-order, despite the constant shifting of his batting position.
Lower-order: Axar Patel, Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage
The lower-order was the easiest to pick in this 11. Sri Lanka's young sensation Dunith Wellalage was the Player of the Series for his 108 runs (third best) with the bat and seven wickets (second best) with the ball. His brilliant hitting skills also make him a trusted finisher on the tracks that this series offered.
Axar Patel and Kamindu Mendis will compliment him. The Indian left-arm spinner took four wickets and scored 79 runs, justifying his selection by showcasing his ability to take the game forward under immense pressure.
Kamindu, meanwhile, offered 63 runs in the lower order alongside his tight bowling throughout the series.
Bowlers: Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando
India seemed to have gotten an advantage when Wanindu Hasaranga picked up an injury and was ruled out from the last two ODIs. However, veteran spinner Jeffrey Vandersay stood up, taking six and two wickets, respectively. The leg-spinner had India in a complete bind in certain phases and will offer this team the extra aggressive element with the ball.
Although it's difficult to resist the temptation of adding another spinner to make it a four-spinner attack — which would work here too — you practically need another fast bowler to take the new ball and break the batters' rhythm when needed.
Asitha Fernando would do that in this team. Although he picked up two wickets in the series, one less than Mohammed Siraj, he offered much more control with the new ball and at the death than the Indian. Siraj showed flashes of brilliance but otherwise struggled to keep his economy rate under six even in low-scoring clashes.