The India vs Sri Lanka series is delivering. After two one-sided affairs, we’ve been treated with two nail-biters. It’s pretty rare to see a tie in ODIs these days, and while fans enjoyed it, Rohit Sharma wasn’t that pleased. ‘We should have gotten that one run’, the Indian captain said after the match. Along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit would be looking to make amends and ensure they win the 2nd ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Having Sri Lanka at 101/5 and then allowing them to get to 230 would be one of the talking points. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh didn’t come into the game much. Siraj took one wicket in the powerplay, and while he didn’t go for runs, he wasn’t effective after the first ten overs. Both of Arshdeep’s scalps came after the 40th over when batters were going for it, and he didn’t even bowl out.
Riyan Parag for Shivam Dube
One could argue that, despite playing Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, India was one spinner short. Shivam Dube had to bowl four overs, and even Shubman Gill was handed the ball at one point. Riyan Parag, who was exceptional as India’s third spinner in the T20I series, could very well come into India’s Playing XI for the 2nd ODI.
Primarily playing as a batter, Dube had a good game. He scored a valuable 25(24) when a defeat looked plausible, and figures of 4-0-19-1 aren’t bad by any means. But he couldn’t finish the match, and he isn’t a spinner. On a Colombo pitch that was aiding the spinner so much that part-time Charith Asalanka took a 3-fer and held India to a tie, it won’t be shocking if Parag’s off-spin is more valuable than Dube’s medium pace.
No place for Rishabh Pant
KL Rahul has shown that he’s reliable behind the wickets and averages over 50 in ODIs. He was exceptional in the ODI World Cup last year and holds the middle order together. Playing an ODI after 8 months, Rahul was a little bit rusty and failed to take India across the line in the first ODI.
However, there is no way that he makes way for Rishabh Pant. Nothing in the southpaw’s record suggests that he’s better than Rahul in 50-over cricket. Of course, India would miss having a left-hander, but to pick someone who averages 15 less just to fill that void just doesn’t make sense.
Predicted India Playing XI for 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (c), Ꮪhubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
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