India vs Sri Lanka 2017: 1st ODI preview, head-to-head, probable XI
Preview
India take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match ODI series at the HPCA Stadium in the picturesque Dharamsala. India have a lot at stake going into the series. A 3-0 whitewash will take them to the top of the ICC ODI rankings but if Sri Lanka manage to win a match, India will remain behind South Africa at No. 2.
Sri Lanka go into the series with a new skipper, Thisara Perera, who replaced Upul Tharanga recently. India too will have a new skipper at the helm. Virat Kohli has been rested for the ODI and T20I series and as a result, Rohit Sharma will lead Team India for the very first time.
Rohit played well in the couple of Tests he got an opportunity in, and will be oozing with confidence going into the series. As far as the teams are concerned, fast bowler Siddharth Kaul makes his way to the Indian squad for the very first time. However, with a power-packed fast bowling line-up, it is unlikely he will start the match ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
However, there were concerns over Shikhar Dhawan's health (fever). If Dhawan sits out, it will most likely be Ajinkya Rahane who opens the batting with his skipper Rohit. However, we might see the young Shreyas Iyer making his ODI debut in the middle-order. But, India also have a little more experience in the form of Manish Pandey.
It will also be interesting to see how many spinners Team India go in with. They have Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav at their disposal. We could see Chahal starting with Axar, who also offers something with the bat.
India likely XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan/Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer/Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
The hero from the Kotla Test Dhananjaya de Silva has been ruled out of the first ODI due to an injury. Test captain Dinesh Chandimal and veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga have not been considered for this series. However, Asela Gunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka and Nuwan Pradeep have been named in the squad and they are most likely to be included in the Sri Lankan XI for the first ODI.
It will be interesting to see if Angelo Mathews rolls his arm over in this series.
Sri Lanka likely XI: Thisara Perera (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva/Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dhananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.
Head-to-head: India and Sri Lanka have played each other in 155 ODIs – India have won 88, while Sri Lanka have won just 55. India have been dominant at home against Sri Lanka. Out of the 48 matches, India have won 34, while Sri Lanka have won just 11. India have not lost to Sri Lanka at home since 2009.
This will be India's first meeting with Sri Lanka at Dharamsala. India have however lost just 1 out of their 3 matches at this stadium – which came in 2013 against England.