The stage is set for the final ODI match between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday as the hosts will look to complete a clean sweep. Despite this, we could see some changes made to the playing eleven by India on the day.
Will SKY play the final match on Sunday? (Courtesy: AP)
In Short
- India have already sealed the series 2-0 in Kolkata
- The hosts may ring in some changes for the final ODI
- Sri Lanka are expected to field the same team for the game on Sunday
The series is already done as India have started the ODI World Cup year with a bang as the action now shifts to the beautiful city of Thiruvananthapuram for the third and final match.
The hosts won the first match by 67 runs and, in a low-scoring affair, clinched the series in Kolkata by claiming victory by four wickets.
This means that India can afford to do a few experiments in what is a dead rubber match for them while Sri Lanka will be aiming to salvage some pride and get a win.
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis (vice-captain & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the possible changes for the Indian team in the third ODI.
The first one would be to see Suryakumar Yadav come into the playing XI in Thiruvananthapuram for either Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahil making the way. Rahul scored a crucial fifty in the last game, but could be given a rest.
Ishan Kishan could come in to take the gloves and also open the batting for India, replacing Shubman Gill for the game. Washington Sundar is being groomed as the next spinning all-rounder and he could be picked instead of Axar Patel for the third game.
Arshdeep Singh could come to replace Mohammed Shami in the final change of the game for India.
Sri Lanka are expected to go with the same eleven that played the second game in Kolkata.
Predicted XI
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis(WK), Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha.
