India VS Sri Lanka 1st ODI of Mastercard Trophy was played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
The start of the ODI series also meant that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would be back in India colors.
Pitch Report
The India VS Sri Lanka 1st ODI of Mastercard Trophy was a batting-friendly surface. It has always been that way. Up in the north-east, would mean early sunsets and more dew in the later stage of the game.
Toss
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first.
India VS Sri Lanka 1st ODI of Mastercard Trophy Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(wk), Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
The Indian team had to take the hard call of dropping Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan from the playing eleven. The former scored a T20 Hundred recently and the latter a double hundred in his previous ODI.
For most, this might mean an unfair call. But, from a cricketing perspective, it only talks about how good India’s bench looks like.
With the World Cup coming in later this year, a strong squad is what any team would aspire for.
India went ahead with Shami, Siraj and Umran Malik which meant Arshdeep Singh had to sit out.
Game
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started off the innings for India. Kasun Rajitha opened the attack for Sri Lanka. After looking out for the first two overs, the Indians unleashed their attack.
Fact: Rohit Sharma’s last ten ODI innings vs SL (before today)
78,4,54,124*,104,16,2,208*,7,103
The flat pitch just made the Indian batting look easy. Rohit soon brought up his 47th ODI fifty. And within 14.5 overs, the pair had put up their 100 run partnership.
This was 27th 100+ opening partnership involving Rohit Sharma in ODIs.
He has done it 18 times with Shikhar Dhawan, 5 times with KL Rahul and 3 times with Rahane. This was his first time with Gill.
The 143 run partnership was broken by Dasun Shanaka. Gill tried to flick, got beaten and was given out lbw. He departed for a well-made 70 off 60 balls.
Rohit followed him soon while missing a well-deserved century. Kohli and Iyer added 40 odd runs for the third wicket.
Following this, Kohli was joined by KL Rahul in the middle. Kohli got to his 65th half-century in style, with a six.
Fact: Most ODI runs vs an opponent for Kohli
2264* vs Sri Lanka
2261 vs West Indies
2083 vs Australia
1403 vs South Africa
Virat held one end while he saw Rahul and Hardik losing their wickets. At 46.2 overs, Kohli reached his 45th ODI Hundred and punched the air in delight. Truly an innings of the finest quality.
Facts of India VS Sri Lanka 1st ODI of Mastercard Trophy
Fact: Most ODI 100s in a country 20 Virat Kohli in India (99 innings) 20 Sachin Tendulkar in India (160) 14 Hashim Amla in South Africa (69) 14 Ricky Ponting in Australia (151)
Fact: Most ODI 100s vs a team
9 Virat Kohli vs WI
9 Virat Kohli vs SL *
9 Sachin Tendulkar vs Aus
8 Rohit Sharma vs Aus
8 Virat Kohli vs Aus
8 Sachin Tendulkar vs SL
At the end of the first innings of India VS Sri Lanka 1st ODI of Mastercard Trophy, India scored 373-7 in their 50 overs.
The Lankan bowlers were really good at the death, they gave away 17 from the last 18 balls.
Sri Lanka started their chase on a disastrous note at 23-2. Both the wickets were picked up by Mohammad Siraj.
Pathum Nissanka played well for his 72 but the Lankans kept losing wickets on the other end. Soon, they were brought down to 189-7 with Umran Malik taking 3 off them.
Dasun Shanaka built a partnership with Rajitha. He was at 95*, with needing 5 runs in the final over for his hundred. The Indian team even got Shanaka almost mankaded but the appeal was withdrawn.
He finally scored his well- deserved century. Sri Lanka finished with 306/8 in their fifty overs. India won the game by 67 runs and go one up in the series.
VIRAT KOHLI’S SPEECH
Virat Kohli: “I don’t think there was anything different. My preparation and intent always remain the same. I thought I was hitting the ball nicely. It was close to the template I play with. I tried to understand the conditions in the second half. Tried to get a comfortable total for us on the board. The one thing I learnt was desperation doesn’t get you anywhere. You do not need to complicate things.”
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