Rishabh Pant has been benched for India’s first ODI against Sri Lanka on Friday (August 2), a game that will see stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play a 50-over game for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final defeat.
Sri Lanka’s new captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat first in Colombo, with the injury-ravaged home team handing out a debut to right-arm medium pacer Mohamed Shiraz. India, had plenty of changes as well from their last ODI in South Africa last December, with skipper Rohit and Kohli returning to the XI.
Rishabh Pant left out, Shivam Dube makes ODI comeback
In Hardik Pandya’s absence, India have also picked Shivam Dube, who played his only ODI back in 2019 against the West Indies in Chennai. In that game, Dube had made nine runs and did not pick up a wicket.
The other big debate from the squad was between the two wicketkeepers KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Rahul, who has fallen off the radar in Test cricket and T20Is, has had a sensational few years in ODI cricket, which also saw him make 452 runs in the World Cup last year at an average of 75.33. Pant, who did not make the World Cup squad as he was recovering from a shocking car accident, failed to make the side.
Sri Lanka have won the toss and India will be bowling first in the first ODI.#RohitSharma #ViratKohli #India #SLvsIND #Cricket pic.twitter.com/8i7R9htESt
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 2, 2024
The series also marks the international comeback of Shreyas Iyer, who was snubbed by the BCCI and did not receive a central contract.
The Indian team are wearing black armbands during the game to honour Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on July 31.
Full team list and XIs from Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz.
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
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