Ind vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: Focus on return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

 Ind vs Sri lanka ODI Match:

India are set to face Sri Lanka in the first ODI of a three-match series on August 2 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The ODI series will mark the return of star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the Indian team.

Both of these players' return will be a major boost for the Men in Blue. This series is also important for Gautam Gambhir, who has taken his first assignment as the new head trainer of the Indian men's cricket team.

The three-match ODI series will be played on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

When and where to watch India vs Sri Lanka ODI series?

Indian suckers can enjoy the live broadcast of the first ODI match between India and Sri Lanka on Sony Sports Network. The opening ODI match will be broadcast live on Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 4, Sony Sports 5, Sony Sports 3 HD, Sony Sports 4 HD and Sony Sports 5 HD channels and users can watch the game live on the SonyLiv app and website as well.

India vs Sri Lanka ODI dates:

India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI - August 2

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI - August 4

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI - August 7

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Expected line-ups

Predicted XI for India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed.

Predicted XI for Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando

Sri Lanka ODI squad:

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando

India ODI squad:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Live Toss

The toss of the 1st ODI match between India and Sri Lanka will take place at 02:00 pm IST, on August 2.

IND vs SL 1st ODI live: 

Star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to ODI setup for the first time since India's ICC World Cup 2023 final loss against Australia in November last year while Sri Lanka miss their star pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka to injuries

The Indian cricket team will look for a positive launch to the series in their first ODI match against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday. Indian brigades set a new chapter with Gautam Gambhir as head coach for the first time ODIs while Sri Lanka start fresh under Charith Aslanka's captaincy.

Sri Lanka's fast-bowling contingent is in disarray, but with the wicket likely to favour spin they may conclude to go in with just the two frontline seamers. Provided they want an extra spin option, Dunith Wellalage might be preferred over Chamika Karunaratne

Pitch and conditions: Rain in the air

If the recent Lanka Premier League is to go by, the conditions for batting might have improved in Colombo compared to recent years, but there is still a fair amount in it for the bowlers, particularly the spinners. But getting a complete game on Friday might be tricky, with pockets of heavy rain anticipated throughout the day.

India vs Sri Lanka: Head-to-head in ODIs

Team Match won

India 99

Sri Lanka 57

There has been 1 tie and 11 no result between India and Sri Lanka in ODIs