India vs Sri Lanka Match Prediction: Who will win today's 1st ODI match?
A lot of things have happened in 2024. Team India steamrolled their way to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and outlasted England in a highly competitive home Test series. However, the Men in Blue are yet to play an ODI in the ongoing calendar year.
That will change on Friday, August 2, when India face off against Sri Lanka in the opening game of a three-match ODI series in Colombo. The visitors recently came out on top in the T20I leg of the tour by a 3-0 margin and are heavily favored to dish out the same fate in the longer format as well.
While Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will be missing in action, India will have a near full-strength squad at their disposal. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back after last playing in the 2023 World Cup and retiring from T20Is, with the likes of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant returning after their fairly long respective layoffs.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had a rather disappointing campaign in the World Cup, where they finished ninth with just two wins from nine matches. Only the Netherlands fared worse than them at the marquee tournament.
Charith Asalanka has been appointed the ODI captain and will want to bring his side back to the top of international cricket. And while there's enough ability in the Sri Lankan ranks, there are serious questions over their application and game awareness. Injuries haven't helped either.
Can India's ODI juggernaut roll on through? Or will Sri Lanka not only put up a fight like they did in the T20Is but also manage to get over the line?
IND vs SL 2024: India's main men return to the 50-over format against unfancied Sri Lanka
Kohli's back and he loves playing against Sri Lanka. He might not have been in great form during the 2024 T20 World Cup, but the main man is a different beast in ODIs. Alongside Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the superstar batter will be itching to have a prolific series.
Sri Lanka have called up Eshan Malinga and Mohamed Shiraz, with Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka being ruled out of the ODI series. They look rather depleted in both departments, although Pathum Nissanka has propped up their batting unit over the last two years.
India, on the other hand, look strong. They should be able to put out six quality bowling options while having a batting lineup that stretches to No. 7, and their top order inspires a ton of confidence.
Rain is expected to curtail the contest, and that could bring Sri Lanka into the game. However, India are the clear favorites for this encounter and can be backed to make a winning start to the series.
Prediction: India to win the 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka.