India's predicted playing XI for the 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka | August 4, 2024
India are all set to lock horns with Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4. The opening game of the rubber ended in a thrilling tie.
The Men in Blue didn't train on the eve of the second ODI and are unlikely to make too many changes. There isn't much cricket on the calendar following the conclusion of this series, and they will want their main men to get enough game time under their belt.
ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the second ODI against Sri Lanka.
Openers: Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma (c)
India's openers had contrasting outings in the series opener. While Shubman Gill struggled to time the ball and labored his way to a strike rate under 50, Rohit Sharma was at his destructive best at the top of the order. The skipper will want to continue in the same vein, and his opening partner won't be too far away from a classic well-paced performance.
Middle order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar
Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel all got off to starts in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, but none of them could get close to a half-century. With conditions in Colombo being challenging, they will need to be at their absolute best to notch up a big score.
Washington Sundar's promotion to No. 4 didn't work in the last game, but we could see the team management shuffle the batters around once again. Gautam Gambhir and company want some flexibility in that department.
India will likely be tempted to play Riyan Parag, whose bowling stood out in the recently concluded T20I series between the two sides. But it's hard to say who the youngster will replace in the side. Rishabh Pant could remain on the bench as well.
Lower order: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Harshit Rana was expected by many to make his ODI debut in the series opener, but India went with just Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj as their frontline pacers. While either Harshit or Khaleel Ahmed could theoretically replace one of the current duo, who have played a fair bit of cricket lately, changes might not be forthcoming.
Kuldeep Yadav will once again serve as the team's specialist wrist-spinner and will be eyeing a bigger wickets haul in the second ODI.