The arrival of Indian star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul in the ODI format creates curiosity regarding the playing 11 combination for the first ODI of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2024.
Under the new head coach and new captaincy, team India won their three-match T20I series by 3-0 and made an excellent start. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who announced their t20I retirement post winning the T20 World Cup 2024 will return to the Indian squad for the first ODI set to be played in Colombo.
With just six months for the Champions Trophy, India has to bring out their best playing 11 in the ODI format and also needs to focus on building the optimal backup unit. Though the return of Rohit and Virat would not affect the top order, the inclusion of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will force the selectors to make hard decisions.
Pant returned to the ODI format nearly after two years and his possibility of replacing KL Rahul as Indian ODI wicketkeeper is considerably low. But his recent T20I form might give an option for the selectors to try Pant in the later games of this ODI series.
India could also be tempted to try out the uncapped Harshit Rana in the XI, a rare pacer who offers some batting potential lower down the order.
Speaking of Sri Lanka, the host has been hit further by two more of their fast bowlers getting ruled out due to injuries, taking the total of fast bowler injuries to six.
Post the T20I series, Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana have been ruled out of the ODI series owing to various injuries. Madushanka has suffered a Grade 2 injury to his left hamstring while Pathirana has injured his shoulder. Uncapped fast bowlers Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga were included in the squad a day ahead of the first game.
Though today Indian cricket team players list and today Sri Lanka cricket team players list will be revealed at the time of the toss, here we have predicted the probable playing 11 for SL vs IND 1st ODI at Pallekele.
Sri Lanka Unavailable Players
- Injury: Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
- Others: NIL
India Unavailable Players
- Injury: NIL
- Others: NIL
SL vs IND 1st ODI probable playing 11
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed/Arshdeep Singh
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Mahesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
CHECK: SL vs IND 1st ODI live streaming – When and Where to Watch
