SL v IND, 5th ODI Preview: India aim for a whitewash; World Cup qualification on stake for the hosts

Whilst hope is traveling in a path that directs towards a graveyard, to encounter a complicated World Cup qualification scenario is the last thing Sri Lankan cricket needs. After getting thumped and humiliated in the first four ODIs, the hosts have no other choice but to defeat India in the final ODI which will take place on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

Things have been disastrous for Sri Lankan cricket over the past couple of years with their playing standards deteriorating. There were occasions in the series when they did put up some fight, but the Indian side seems to be way too strong to deal with for them. The visitors have been ruthless would be an understatement and the bottles attack at Pallekele just sums up the situation of the fans.

These are clearly no good signs and it can only change when the players get over the trauma and start playing up to their capabilities. Their case is so different from the West Indian side who don’t have any established senior players to guide them through this transition phase. Considering the amount of talent that exists on paper, there’s always scope for an inspiring comeback.

The Indian team on the other side will be missing the services of their in form batter Shikhar Dhawan, who traveled back to India to see his ailing mother. Ajinkya Rahane will probably take up his position and there won’t be much shuffling done with the playing XI. It won’t be surprising definitely if this game too will be a walk in the park considering how brilliant they’ve been, but the fans would be hoping for atight contest to finish the series with a bang.

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first

Captains speak

Upul Tharanga: We are going to bat first. It is an important game for us. We planned a few things before the series but we couldn’t quite do well. It is tough when the team doesn’t stay the same. The captains have changed all through. We have one change – Kusal Mendis goes out and I come in.

Virat Kohli: We would’ve batted first as well. It has a bit of moisture but we are playing an extra bowler as well today. The mindset stays the same, we need to play to win and have to ensure that complacency doesn’t creep in. We have four changes – KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shikhar Dhawan are out, Ajinkya Rahane, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Chahal and Jadhav are back in.

Playing XI

Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella(w), Upul Tharanga(c), Dilshan Munaweera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Milinda Siriwardana, Wanidu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Malinda Pushpakumara, Vishwa Fernando, Lasith Malinga

India: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli(c), Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur

Focus will be on

Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)

With the burden of captaincy moving on to someone else, Angelo Mathews seems to be settling down to his usual best slowly. He was brilliant in the 4th ODI, picking up crucial wickets for the side and conceding under 5 an over in a game where India scored 375. With the bat, he did get a start but didn’t convert it into a big one. If there’s anyone who can win matches all by his own in their side, Mathews has a bigger responsibility than the captaincy he left.

Virat Kohli (India)

There was no better way to shut the mouth of their critics than spanking a hundred that will be remembered for eternity. Virat Kohli’s ability can never ever be doubted and we got an example of it the other day when the Lankan bowlers had no clue what to do with him. There will be spot light again on him, just the way it has been over the last few years and the fans would love to him get another big score.

Playing Combinations

Sri Lanka

Niroshan Dickwella and Dilshan Munaweera will open the batting for the Islanders whilst Lahiru Thirimanne will be grabbing the number 3 spot. The middle order comprises of some talented names Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews and Milinda Siriwardana, but there has been nothing going their way so far.

Lasith Malinga reached the coveted milestone of 300 ODI wickets by picking up the wicket of his greatest rival Virat Kohli. He needs to pick a few more on Sunday and Vishwa Fernando has to do a lot better than what he did the other day. Angelo Mathews struck form with the ball and Akila Dananjaya and Milinda Siriwardana will have a crucial role to play given the track assists the spinners.

India

Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma will open the batting and KL Rahul will have to settle for a place in the middle order. With Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya available, another horrid time awaits the Lankan bowlers and they the batters would be eager to finish the series on a high.

The Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have been terrific, but it’ll be interesting to see if they can make it to the World Cup side or not considering the competition that exists. Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur will take the new ball, with Hardik Pandya being the other alternative for the power play.

StatAttack

286 – Rohit Sharma has scored 286 runs this series at an average of 95.33, making him the highest run scorer this series.

4 – Indian batters have registered four individual tons. No Lankan batsman registered a hundred this series.

2 – The top two highest team totals at R Premadasa Stadium have been recorded by the Indan side (375 and 363).