India vs Sri Lanka 2024, 1st ODI: Toss result and playing XIs for today's match, umpires list and pitch report
Having clinched the T20Is by a 3-0 margin, India will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match one-day series, which starts with the first game at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Men in Blue will go into the series as favorites, given their dominant record over the Lankans in recent years.
T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma is back to lead the team in the one-day format. Senior batter Virat Kohli has also joined the ODI squad, as have Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
The series will be crucial as India look to build towards the 2025 Champions Trophy. In the next three games, India will work towards finding an answer to the Rishabh Pant vs Rahul keeping debate.
Sri Lanka may have lost the T20I series 3-0. However, deep down, they would know that they could have won all three games. Skipper Charith Asalanka admitted after the loss in the third T20I that the batters need to pull their socks up. He, himself, had a very poor series and will need to lead from the front in the ODIs.
Today's IND vs SL toss result
Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat first. Speaking about the decision, Charith Asalanka said:
"It looks like a dry pitch and that's the reason."
Mohamed Shiraz is making his debut for Sri Lanka. For India, Rishabh Pant, Khaleel Ahmed, Riyan Parag and Harshit Rana miss out.
IND vs SL - Today's match playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz
Today's IND vs SL pitch report
In his pitch report, Scott Styris says the surface doesn’t look quite bad. There is very little grass covering, so it may turn a bit, he reckons. He adds that there could be a medium bounce, and it could be a bit tacky.
Styris expects some runs and concludes that it might get better to bat under lights.
Today's IND vs SL match players list
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana
Sri Lanka squad: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Mohamed Shiraz, Akila Dananjaya, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Eshan Malinga
IND vs SL - Today's match umpires
On-field umpires: Joel Wilson, Raveendra Wimalasiri
TV umpire: Paul Reiffel
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle