After a complete whitewash of 3-0 against Sri Lanka (SL) in T20Is, India (IND) aims for another clean sweep in the upcoming 3-match ODI series. The 50-over format series witnesses the return of Rohit Sharma as captain and his teammate Virat Kohli making a first appearance after a historical T20 World Cup win on June 29. After a month’s gap fans will be excited to witness the “Ro-Ko” combination (the short form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) back into action. Also, players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will be returning to the squad which is a strategic move to deal with the challenges of playing on the Sri Lankan soil.
Interestingly, it is the first 50-over assignment for Indian captain Rohit Sharma as well as Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach since the 2023 ODI World Cup finals.
Both the teams have made certain changes to the squad when compared to the recently concluded T20I series. The injury or illness-related absence caused Sri Lanka to include only three seamers in the 15-member squad.
In this preview, let’s find out the head-to-head stats of Sri Lanka vs India in ODIs to predict the winner of the forthcoming match. Moreover, we will analyze how both teams have performed in the recent matches of the 50-over format game.
Furthermore, we would check out the pitch conditions and weather forecast reports estimating the chances of playing a complete 50-over contest per side. It would be interesting to form the possible playing XI combination of both teams and find out the broadcasting and live-streaming details for the most exciting match.
SL vs IND 1st ODI Match Details: Schedule, Venue Live Streaming and Broadcasting Details
Here is the schedule and venue for the 1st ODI match between Sri Lanka and India you need to know:
| Date and Day | 02nd August 2024 (Friday) |
| Timings | 02:30 pm LOCAL and IST |
| Venue | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Seating Capacity | 38,000 |
| Live Streaming Platform | Sony Liv App and Official Website |
| Broadcasting Channels | Sony Sports Network (All SD and HD Channels of Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4, and Sony Sports Ten 5) |
Sri Lanka and India in Recent ODI Matches: Performance Comparison
Sri Lanka has played more ODI matches than India since the 2023 World Cup and let’s evaluate their performance in detail:
1. Sri Lanka:
After the 2023 World Cup, Sri Lanka has played 3 ODI series against these teams:
- Zimbabwe: Won the 3-match ODI home series with 2-0.
- Afghanistan: Won the 3-match ODI home series with 3-0.
- Bangladesh: Won the 3-match ODI series with 2-1.
The Sri Lankan cricketers have been in good form in ODIs, and it remains to be seen how they perform against the mighty Indians.
2. India:
The Indian cricket team has been in good form in the 50-over format by winning all 10 matches of the ODI World Cup 2023 sequentially before losing to Australia in the finals. After a 28-day gap, Team India played the 3-match ODI series against South Africa under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy. The men-in-blue clinched the series on the South African soil with a margin of 2-1.
The upcoming ODI series will be a preparatory phase for India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starting in February 2025.
Weather Forecast Reports at Colombo: SL vs IND 1st ODI Match
The weather conditions at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo suggest that the temperature during the match could range between 28 °C to 31 °C during the match under a cloudy sky with high chances of rain.
Either the commencement of the match could be delayed or the possibility of conducting a reduced-over contest.
Predicted Toss Outcome and Pitch Conditions for SL vs IND 1st ODI Match
The pitch conditions at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo favor bowlers by providing a huge swing with the average first innings score of 225 runs. As the pitch provides a fair contest between the bat and ball, the toss-winning skipper would decide to bat first and post a huge total. However, the decision might vary depending on the team’s strength in the batting and bowling lineup.
Head-to-Head Stats of Sri Lanka vs India in ODIs
Sri Lanka and India competed against each other in 168 matches and the head-to-head stats are tabulated below:
| Total Matches Played | 168 |
| India’s Overall Winnings | 99 |
| Sri Lanka’s Overall Winnings | 57 |
| No Result Matches | 11 |
| Tied Games | 1 |
| India’s winnings at Homeground | 40 |
| Sri Lanka’s winnings at Homeground | 28 |
| India’s winnings at Overseas | 32 |
| Sri Lanka’s winnings at Overseas | 12 |
| India’s winnings at Neutral Venue | 27 |
| Sri Lanka’s winnings at Neutral Venue | 17 |
| Highest Total | India: 414 -7 in 50 overs in Rajkot on 15th December 2009. |
| Lowest Total | Sri Lanka: 50-10 in 15.2 overs in Colombo on 17th September 2023. |
| Top Individual Score for a batter | Rohit Sharma: 264 runs from 173 balls (including 33 fours and 9 sixes) on 13th November 2014. |
Probable Playing XI for Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI Match
Possibly, Sri Lanka and India might prefer the below-mentioned playing XI combination for the 1st ODI match:
Indian Cricket Team Playing XI for 1st ODI Match:
| S.No | Player | Role |
| 1. | Rohit Sharma (captain) | Right-Handed Batter |
| 2. | Shubman Gill | Right-Handed Batter |
| 3. | Virat Kohli | Right-Handed Batter |
| 4. | Shreyas Iyer | Right-Handed Batter |
| 5. | KL Rahul (wicketkeeper) | Right-Handed Batter |
| 6. | Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper) | Left-Handed Batter |
| 7. | Riyan Parag | All-rounder (Right-Handed Batter / Right-Arm Leg Spinner) |
| 8. | Axar Patel | All-rounder (Left -Handed Batter / Right-Arm Spinner) |
| 9. | Kuldeep Yadav | Left-arm-wrist-spin bowler |
| 10. | Arshdeep Singh | Left-arm-medium fast bowler |
| 11. | Mohammed Siraj | Right-arm-medium fast bowler |
Sri Lankan Cricket Team Playing XI for 1st ODI Match:
| S.No | Player | Role |
| 1. | Pathum Nissanka | Right-Handed Batter |
| 2. | Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper) | Right-Handed Batter |
| 3. | Charith Asalanka (captain) | Left-Handed Batter |
| 4. | Wanindu Hasaranga | All-rounder (Right-Handed Batter / Right-Arm Leg Spinner) |
| 5. | Sadeera Samarawickrama | Right-Handed Batter |
| 6. | Janith Liyanage | All-rounder (Right-Handed Batter / Right-Arm Medium-Fast) |
| 7. | Maheesh Theekshana | Right-arm off-spin bowler |
| 8. | Dunith Wellalage | Left-arm spin bowler |
| 9. | Asitha Fernando | Right-arm medium-fast bowler |
| 10. | Kamindu Mendis | All-rounder (Left -Handed Batter / Right-arm off-spin bowler) |
| 11. | Eshan Malinga | All-rounder (Left -Handed Batter / Right-arm-medium-fast bowler) |
Overall Facts:
It would be interesting to watch the collaboration of Rohit Sharma with the former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir in the new era to shape the ODI squad for the upcoming crucial tournaments. Team India has a 90% chance of winning the first ODI match of the series.
Despite a huge difference in the current standings of India and Sri Lanka in ODIs, it wouldn’t be easy for the men-in-blue to defeat the hosts. Also, the Sri Lankans shouldn’t be underestimated as they are expected to bounce back after facing a humiliating defeat against Indians in the recent 3-match T20I series. Finally, the time has arrived to make your Friday enjoyable by watching the thrilling and challenging battle between the key players of India and Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI match of the series.