Preview, 2nd ODI: India look to stay in the series against SL

Mohali, December 12: After being handed a shocking defeat in the first One-day International, a wounded India would look to get even against Sri Lanka in the second match at Mohali on Wednesday (December 13).

The loss was an eye-opener for a team that has been dominant for much of the home season.

Proving that the opening day surrender to Sri Lanka pacers at the Eden Gardens was no aberration, the Indian batting stood exposed once again against the moving ball.

Chandigarh won't be as cold as Dharamsala but the pacers should come into play considering it is another 11:30 am start.

Barring old war-horse MS Dhoni, the rest of the batsmen ended up sitting ducks every time Suranga Lakmal pitched the ball up and around the off-stump.

After Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fell early, it was an ideal opportunity for the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey to weather the storm and make a big score.

However, they all came a cropper and if not for Dhoni's fighting 65, India could have been shot out for their lowest ever total.

"It is important to thrive in these conditions and come out good. It is an eye opener for all of us," Rohit had said.

He is unlikely to tinker with the playing eleven but there is a possibility that Ajinkya Rahane is picked to shore up the inexperienced batting, especially the middle order.

#TeamIndia trained in Mohali ahead of the 2nd @Paytm #INDvSL ODI. A high-intensity fielding session was followed by a net session. pic.twitter.com/jRBpLvSTVw

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2017

In the bowling department, the worry for India will be the performance of Hardik Pandya, who again leaked runs as the hosts tried to defend a paltry 112.

He is picked as the bowling all-rounder for the South Africa Test series and needs to be at the top of his game.

Considering Sri Lanka cantered to victory in 20.4 overs, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav did not come on to bowl. They would be itching to get back into action.

While India find themselves in an unusual situation at home, Sri Lanka have a golden opportunity to seal the series after ending a 12-match losing streak.

Squads: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Washington Sundar, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul.

Sri Lanka: Thisara Perera (captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Chaturanga de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachith Pathirana, Kusal Perera.

Match starts at 11.30 am

Live: Star Sports 1 & 3