Predicted India playing XI: After a tied game followed by a 32-run loss, Team India sits on the cusp of ending their 27-year-old dominance over Sri Lanka. The Lankan Lions are just one win short (or another tie) to end their wait for an ODI series win against the Men in Blue. The last time they beat India in an ODI bilateral was way back in 1997.
Awful returns by IND middle-order
The Sri Lankan batting has not fired at all. However, they have somehow found out ways to post par totals. While Dunith Wellalage propelled the Lankans to 230 in the opening ODI, it was a combined effort from the entire batting unit to get to 240 in the recent second affair. Unfortunately, the same hasn’t been the case with Team India. Although Rohit Sharma has set the platform, smashing two fifties within the powerplay overs, none of the other batters have followed the suit.
KL Rahul & Shivam Dube need to be replaced?
The entire Indian middle-order has faltered. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul & Shivam Dube have all let the fans down. While Kohli and Iyer are irrepealable, India have backups ready for Rahul and Dube.
Rahul scored 31 runs in the first ODI but failed to take India hope. However, in the next match, he was out on a silver duck, completely faltering against Jeffrey Vandersay. Shivam Dube, meanwhile, almost won the game in the 1st bout. However, he looked absolutely clueless against a top-quality Lankan spin. Although dubbed as a ‘spin basher’, Dube doesn’t move his feet in order to tackle the varying lengths. Moreover, he even fails to read the grip from a spinner’s hand.
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Riyan Parag is the answer!
India should ideally look at replacing Dube with Riyan Parag. The main idea behind this tactic should be simple and that is the amount of spin generating off the deck. All three ODIs are being played in Colombo and the surface is bound to get even slower. Parag, who showcased his skill as a bowlers in T20Is, should get a look-in as well. Take inspiration from Sri Lanka, who played just a solitary pacer in Asitha Fernando in the second ODI. India already have Washington, Axar and Kuldeep. With Parag coming in, the quartet should be enough to derail the Lankan batting.
What about Pant?
There are discussions if India should also include Rishabh Pant in the upcoming match. The southpaw definitely adds a ‘X-factor’ due to his aggressive mindset and unorthodox batting ideas. The only way India can include Pant is by replacing KL Rahul. However, it would be unfair on the Karnataka-born lad, given how well he served the team in ODIs last year. 1060 runs at an average of 66.25 and at a strike rate of 87.74 – these are the 2023 numbers for Rahul, who regularly batted at number five. Moreover, Rahul is a great player of spin, which indicates that it is only a matter of time that he hit his straps once again.
Predicted India Playing XI for 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (c), Ꮪhubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul/ Rishabh Pant (wk), Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
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