The visitors' losing streak and other talking points ahead of first ODI between India and Sri Lanka

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Sri Lanka have had a terrible year in the limited-overs format.

    After a Test series overshadowed by controversies relating to pollution levels in Delhi, India and Sri Lanka will switch attentions to the three-match ODI series beginning with the first game at Dharamshala on Sunday.

    The hosts overcome the visitors by 1-0 in the three-match Test series and will be looking to continue that dominance in the limited-overs formats.

    Ahead of the opener at the picturesque venue of Dharamshala, we look at the key talking points.

    ROHIT TAKES CHARGE OF VIRAT-LESS INDIA

    Virat Kohli has been granted a rest from the limited-overs matches against the islanders and this will provide an opportunity for Rohit Sharma to take the captaincy reins of the Men in Blue.

    The Mumbai man loves playing against Sri Lanka with four one-day tons and five fifties against them in the 50-over format. The last time the visitors were in India for an ODI series in 2013, Sharma registered his world-record score of 264 run in the fourth match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

    The right-handed opener will relish the opportunity to have a go at them once again, this time as skipper.

    Sharma will relish playing against the Sri Lankans.

    Sharma will relish playing against the Sri Lankans.

    AJINKYA RAHANE’S CHANCE TO GET SOME FORM

    The Test series was a highly forgettable one for Rahane where he scored just 17 runs in five innings. Much has been said about the woeful form of a batsman who is expected to be crucial to India’s chances in the upcoming tough tour of South Africa.

    Not really a mainstay in limited-overs setup with Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul a permanent fixture in the opening slot, Rahane could be afforded a chance at number three in the absence of Kohli.

    India have other options in the form of Shreyas Iyer but the team management will surely be looking to get Rahane back into form before they depart for South Africa.

    Rahane is in desperate need of runs.

    Rahane is in desperate need of runs.

    SRI LANKA’S LOSING STREAK

    The islanders have had one of the worst calendar years in the limited-overs format in 2017. They were handsomely thrashed 5-0 when India toured Sri Lanka a few months earlier but that has not been their only humbling.

    They have been on the receiving end of three 5-0 whitewashes this year with their most recent one coming against Pakistan in the UAE.

    They come into Sunday’s match on the back of a 12-match losing streak and skipper Thisara Perera will have his hands full in trying to prevent another humbling.

    Sri Lanka had been beaten 3-2 by Zimbabwe in their own backyard earlier.

    Sri Lanka had been beaten 3-2 by Zimbabwe in their own backyard earlier.

    INDIA’S CHANCE TO BECOME NO.1

    India currently sits in second spot in the ICC ODI men’s team rankings, behind leaders South Africa. Both the teams have a rating of 120 but the Men in Blue lag seven points behind the Proteas’ 6, 386 points.

    If the hosts want to climb to the top of the summit, they will need to clean-sweep the series by 3-0.

    India hold the No1 rating in the Test format and to hold the crown in two different formats simultaneously would surely be something to savour.

    India will be aiming to dethrone South Africa from the top spot.

    India will be aiming to dethrone South Africa from the top spot.

    Recommended