India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma faces healthy headache as India begin road to home World Cup

India will begin their road to the much-anticipated 2023 World Cup in the upcoming 3-match series against familiar foes, Sri Lanka.

Captain Rohit Sharma will be in focus again as he will lead the side in the series, starting at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, January 10.

India will look to snap their losing streak in ODIs after having lost to New Zealand and Bangladesh on the road after the T20 World Cup in 2022. However, the Asian giants have an envious record at home, having not lost an ODI series at home since March 2019. Since the 2019 World Cup, India have won 11 out of 15 matches at home, which includes 5 successive series victories.

India will begin as overwhelming favourites to win the ODI series against Sri Lanka even as the islanders gave the hosts a run for their money in the recently-concluded T20I series. The return of captain Rohit, former captain Virat Kohli, pacer Mohammed Shami and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will only strengthen the side.

Sri Lanka will have to punch above their weight on their first ODI series in India since December 2017 and the absence of express pacer Dushamnatha Chameera is a big setback for the visitors, who will look to hand opportunities to young quicks who have impressed in the shortest format of the game.

For India, it is a problem of plenty, which captain Rohit Sharma said is a ‘good headache’ to have as they begin identifying a core group for the 2023 World Cup.

Left-handed opener Ishan Kishan is all set to warm the benches after having hit a double hundred in his last ODI appearance, which was also the 3rd ODI of the 3-match series in Bangladesh which India lost 2-1. Rohit Sharma, speaking to the press on the eve of the first ODI in Guwahati, confirmed Shubman Gill will get the opportunity ahead of Ishan in ODIs and a consistent run too.

Gil play 12 ODIs for India in 2022 and scored 638 runs, including a hundred and 4 fifties, at an average of 70.

SURYAKUMAR TO WAIT FOR HIS CHANCE?
On the other hand, India might be tempted to give Suryakumar Yadav another run in ODIs in the World Cup year. However, it’s unlikely to come at the cost of replacing Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul, who is set to keep wickets in the 50-over format of the game. Unlike T20Is, Suryakumar has struggled for consistency in ODIs, scoring 384 runs in 16 matches so far in his career.

Captain Rohit made it clear that India would not make the mistake of comparing different formats while highlighting that the team will not turn a blind eye to form. Suryakumar is heading into the ODI series on the back of a stunning T20I hundred in the decider in Rajkot on Saturday.

“I do understand the form as well. Form is important but the format is also important. The 50-over format is a different format, slightly longer than the T20 format, and the guys who have performed in ODIs will definitely get a run. We are very clear in what we want to do,” Rohit added.

3 PACERS OR 2?
Jasprit Bumrah getting ruled out means Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami will reunite to lead the pace attack, which also has Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh. India might as well play an extra spinner as they have Hardik Pandya available for ODIs for the first time since the tour of England last year.

Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are handy spin-bowling all-rounders while there will also be a toss-up between the two wrist-spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will field a similar XI that played a T20I series. Captain Dasun Shanaka, who has struggled to find his footing in the ODI format, will be keen on making good use of his form and leading the team from the front. The team would want better showing from the middle-order while openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka will be crucial to their chances.

Sri Lanka will also hope Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana can make an impact in the ODIs too.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS: 1st ODI

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has so far hosted only one ODI – October 2018 against West Indies. It was a high-scoring affair with India chasing down a 323-run target in just 42.1 overs. Both Rohit Sharma (152) and Virat Kohli (140) scored hundreds in the ODI. One can expect a good batting pitch for the series opener, which will be a day-night affair in Guwahati.