Overview

Sri Lanka vs India, first ODI
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
18 July, 03:00 pm local

The hosts will be without the services of wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera and pacer Binura Fernando. Newly-appointed skipper Dasun Shanaka will have the huge task on his hands of overturning the hosts' poor form in the ODI format, with them currently struggling on the CWCSL table. 

India also have a squad brimming with new faces, as many of the big names are currently camped in England, preparing for the upcoming five-match Test series. Led by the vastly experienced Shikhar Dhawan, the visitors still have ample quality in their ranks and the likes of Bhvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Manish Pandey will have the responsibility of guiding the youngsters on the tour.

Remember the last time:

The last time these two sides faced off in a bilateral series, it was a hard-fought encounter with hosts India eventually emerging as 2-1 victors. Losing the first match in Dharamsala, India hit back hard with back-to-back victories in Mohali and Visakhapatnam. Rohit Sharma top-scored with 217 runs in the series, which included a memorable 208* in Mohali. Yuzvendra Chahal emerged as the leading wicket-taker with six scalps.

What they said:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India pacer): "It's been good (working with Dravid). We spent 14 days in quarantine in Mumbai. After seven days, we were out in the gym. He's kept things very simple. There are young guys, there are senior guys. Everyone is listening to him. It's been a good experience. Once the matches come, there will be planning and we'll get to learn more from him."