Kusal Mendis and vice-captain Rohit Sharma among key stars as Sri Lanka and India get set for ODI series

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  • Mendis and Sharma are two key players with the bat.

    After an emphatic 3-0 clean-sweep of the Test series, visitors India take on hosts Sri Lanka in the first encounter of their five-match one-day international series at Dambulla on Sunday.

    While the gulf in class between the two sides was evident in the Tests, it will be a different ball-game altogether in the limited-overs format as evidenced by Sri Lanka’s win over the visitors in the group stages of the ICC Champions Trophy in England earlier this summer.

    Virat Kohli’s India will undoubtedly be the favourites going into the match but Upul Tharanga’s men will be looking for some redemption after the chastening defeat in the five-day format for which they have been criticized by all quarters of the Sri Lankan cricket fraternity.

    Here, we look at two key players from either side who have it in them to individually decide the course of the match.

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    SRI LANKA

    THISARA PERERA

    The 28-year-old all-rounder brings a wealth of experience in the limited-overs format. He has become a T20 specialist as of late, representing various franchisees all around the globe.

    The left-hander can quick use the long-handle to good effect at the death while his medium pacers will provide Tharanga with an extra option in the bowling department.

    Perera can use the long-handle to good effect.

    Brute power: Perera.

    Perera last played for Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy earlier this year and has since been busy playing as an all-rounder for county side Gloucestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast.

    Indeed, he has been having a good time in England with 10 wickets in six T20 matches so far.

    On his day, he can single-handedly destroy the opposition with his lofty blows over mid-on and mid-wicket.

    KUSAL MENDIS

    The 22-year-old Mendis was one of the bright sparks for Sri Lanka in the Test drubbing as exemplified with his fighting century in the second Test at Colombo.

    Still only 33 ODIs into his young career, the right-handed batsman has shown enough glimpses of his untapped potential with one ton and 11 half-centuries to his name.

    The fact that his only ODI century so far came at the same venue against Bangladesh will give Mendis an additional boost.

    His 89 against India in their Champions Trophy win earlier this year is further testament to the threat the young man from Moratuwa poses to the visitors.

    Mendis was instrumental in Sri Lanka's victory over India in the CT.

    Mendis was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory over India in the CT.

    INDIA

    ROHIT SHARMA

    The 30-year-old Sharma has been named the vice-captain of the side for the ODI series for the first time since his debut about a decade ago.

    The stylish batsman has been one of the mainstays of the Indian limited-overs set-up for the last few years and there is no question about the infinite talent the Mumbai-born Sharma possesses.

    The only criticism that can be labelled against the batsman is inconsistency but there is no doubt that when Sharma gets going, India usually end up on the winning side more often than not.

    The only man in world cricket with two double-centuries to his name in the 50-over format, Sharma’s highest score of 264 came against the Sri Lankans in Kolkata in 2014.

    With 11 ODI centuries altogether under his belt, one will be wise not to bet against the right-hander adding to that tally in the upcoming series.

    Sharma has a propensity to go big in the limited-overs format.

    Sharma has a tendency to go big in the limited-overs format.

    HARDIK PANDYA

    Pandya was a revelation in the recently concluded Test series after his maiden call-up. His swashbuckling 108 off just 96 deliveries in the final Test at Pallekele would not look out of place on an ODI scorecard.

    The 23-year-old has come a long way since his outrageous talents were discovered in the IPL and has seamlessly translated his skills to the international stage.

    With a strike-rate of over 135 in the limited-overs format, Pandya will be a handful on the pitches on offer in Sri Lanka. He will be given the role of stepping on the accelerator at the death overs along with the veteran MS Dhoni.

    His medium pacers were spot-on in the Tests where he picked up four crucial wickets. Along with his unquestionable skills with the bat and ball, Pandya is an excellent fielder to boot making him the complete package.

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