Colombo, July 18: Indian cricket team under the leadership of new captain Shikhar Dhawan take on Sri Lanka in the opening ODI on Sunday (July 18) at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
With this match, some of the fringe India cricketers will be eager for an ICC T20 World Cup audition when India's different-looking yet formidable white-ball squad.
Winning any international series will be paramount but one can expect a few combinations being tried out during a series that got delayed by five days due to the COVID-19 scare in the Sri Lankan camp.
Despite the absence of big players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, Team India is well ahead of Sri Lanka. The visitors' squad comprises Dhawan, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Deepak Chahar and their good form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 will bode them well.
The young guns who have proved themselves time and again, and coach Rahul Dravid has made it clear that the visitors will focus on winning the Sri Lanka series and not everybody could get to play all matches. It will be interesting to see who gets a chance in the playing eleven.
Here are the live updates from the 1st ODI:
It was an all-round show from the Indian team as the Dhawan-led side notched up a comprehensive 7-wicket win over hosts Sri Lanka. After the bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal, restricted Lanka to 262, the Indian batsmen put up an entertaining show to chase down the below-par total with 13.2 overs to spare
A single by the skipper and India notch up a comprehensive 7-wicket win
Dhawan on strike to score the winning runs
Just two needed to win
FOUR!! Dhawan whacks this over deep midwicket
FOUR! Three back-to-back boundaries from debutant Suryakumar Yadav. Just 19 needed to win
FOUR!! Suryakumar sweeps it over backward square leg for a boundary
32 runs needed off 17 overs for a win for India
Suryakumar Yadav the new batsman in. Another debutant for India today
CAUGHT! Reckless shot from Pandey as he goes for 26 off 40 as Shanaka picks him up on a second attempt. India lose their third wicket. The visitors 48 from 19.2 overs to win the 1st ODI
India cruising at this stage. Dhawan on course to win his fist match as skipper. India need 55 runs from the 20.4 overs
FOUR! Dhawan capitalises on the Free hit as he finds the boundary
200 up for India in 27.5 overs. The visitors need 63 runs from 22 overs to win the first ODI
FOUR!! A boundary to end the over. 16 runs come off the over.
FOUR! Another lovely shot from Pandey as he follows up the six with a boundary down the ground
SIX!! Superb shot from Pandey as he finds his first boundary of the evening. Pandey sends it over mid-off to hit Sandakan for a maximum
25 overs done. India cruising towards a win as the visiting side need 86 off 25 overs to pocket the first ODI
Dhawan picks up his 33rd ODI half-century! Leading India for the first time has played a controlled and patient knock as he brings up his 50 off 61 deliveries. Dhawan also reaches the 6000 run mark in ODIs
11 off the over. Dhawan on 49 off 60
Inside edge and it races away for a second consecutive boundary
FOUR!! Lovely shot from skipper Dhawan as it races away towards the boundary
Maiden over from Hasaranga
The boundaries have slowed down after Kishan and Shaw's explosive innings. But Pandey and Dhawan keep India steady. With the required runrate at 3.57, India are cruising at this stage. The visitors need 100 from 28 overs to win the first ODI
Paandey off the mark with a single
Big celebrations for Kishan tonight as he scored a blistering 50 on his ODI debut.
Indians scoring a fifty on their birthday (in men's ODIs):
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) July 18, 2021
Vinod Kambli (21st)
Navjot Sidhu (31st)
Sachin Tendulkar (25th)
Yusuf Pathan (26th)
Ishan Kishan (23rd)
Kishan is the only one to do so on his ODI debut.#SLvIND #SLvsIND #INDvsSL
Wickets missing and the skipper keeps his wicket as the decision has to be overturned.
Big LBW appeal for Dhawan. And he's given it. Dhawan reviews it
Manish Pandey the new batsman
OUT! Ishan Kishan's wonderful innings come to an end. Making his ODI debut, the youngster scored a blistering 59 off 42. Sandakan hands Sri Lanka the big wicket as India lose their second. India at 143/2 after 17.5 overs
Hasaranga comes into the attack now. A single to begin the over