All that has happened since the last time Sri Lanka won a bilateral ODI series against India

Team India’s utter dominance over Sri Lanka isn’t highlighted due to some of the greatest individual performances by the Lankans and the huge totals they have managed. The Sri Lankans are still awaiting their maiden Test win on Indian soil while in ODI cricket, they are yet to win a bilateral series against the neighbours in the last 20 years.

So far, both the teams have faced off in 16 bilateral ODI series with India winning 11 of them and Sri Lanka managing victory in only two; the last was way back in 1997. After that series, India and Sri Lanka faced off in 9 bilateral ODI series. The Men in Blue won seven while other two ended without a winner. Out of those seven series India won, the fate of six series was decided even before the final match was played.

Sri Lanka whitewashed India in the 3-match series played in 1997 at home while the following series played in India in the same year ended in a draw. The teams later faced off in a bilateral series in 2005, the first in 8 years. It was the start of India’s dominance over Sri Lanka as they defeated the visitors 6-1.

The 2006 series in Sri Lanka supposed to be a Tri-series including South Africa but due to security issues, the series became a bilateral affair which was abandoned while only 22 balls of play was possible due to rain. The 2007 series in India was the only time Sri Lanka came close to winning an ODI series against India before they lost the series decider. Five series’ were played after that which India sealed by the end of the 4th ODI with Sri Lanka managing to win only five games out of the 25 bilateral encounters.

Things that have happened in International cricket since 1997:

1 – Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan ended their careers as highest run-getters and wicket-takers respectively in Test cricket and ODI cricket.

2 – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara made their debuts and ended their careers as the most capped International cricketers behind Sachin Tendulkar.

3 – Twenty20 cricket became the 3rd format at the International stage in 2005. West Indies are the only team to win the World T20 twice so far.

4 – Australia won four out of the five ODI World Cups played in the last 20 years.

6 – Five players have scored six double centuries in ODIs since 2010 including four double tons scored by three Indian players.

8 – Chaminda Vass became the first and is the only player till date to take 8 wickets in an ODI game.

10 – Anil Kumble became the 2nd player after Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in a Test inning in 1999.

400* – Brian Lara scored 400* in a Test inning in 2004. He broke the record for the highest individual score in Tests which was in the name of Mathew Hayden (380 in 2003).

2011 – India won their first 50-over World Cup after 28 years and also broke the jinx of the home team not winning the World Cup.