Preview: Sri Lanka vs India - Tri-Series 2013

By Admin
virat kohli

What

Match 6 of the Celkon Mobile Cup, featuring India vs Sri Lanka

When

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Where

Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad

The Teams

India

For Team India, the last league match of the ongoing tri-series is a virtual semi-final as only a win would see them qualify for the finals on July 11. For a total less than 321, a win off the last ball will ensure that India make it to the final as it will take their net run-rate above that of West Indies (-0.383) – India’s NRR currently is -0.524. And if the Indians end up chasing a 321-plus total, they will need to get home with a few balls to spare – depending on the target they are chasing.

The prevalence of rain in Trinidad over the last few days could present Virat Kohli and his young team an added challenge. As for the team combination, expect India to field more or less the same XI that defeated West Indies in the previous match.

Sri Lanka

A win in the rain-marred game against the hosts has put Sri Lanka on the threshold of the final. Leading the points table with a far superior net run-rate (+1.019) than both their competitors, all Angelo Mathew’s team needs to do against India is not lose by a huge margin.

However, they would want to go into the final with a win under their belt and their confidence soaring sky-high. Sri Lanka must stick to their guns and not let complacency creep in. Like India, the Lankans too would likely keep from disturbing their winning combination as they pick their XI for the match.

Key Players

 India

Virat Kohli has time and again shown that responsibility brings out the best in him. He relishes pressure situations and fancies scoring runs against India’s southern neighbours. Do not be surprised then if he follows up his century against West Indies with another fine innings in the last league match of the series.

On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s knack for dislodging the opponent’s top order early on will come in handy for India, especially with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in good nick.

Sri Lanka

With 206 runs three matches – 174 of which came in one innings against India – Upul Tharanga is in tremendous form. If he stitches a significant partnership at the top of the order with either Jayawardene or Sangakkara, Sri Lanka can certainly put up a daunting total.

Form guide

 (most recent first, last five completed matches)
Sri Lanka WWLLW
India WLLWW

Stats and trivia

India and Sri Lanka have played 40 ODIs between each other over the past five years - India have won 24 of those, while Sri Lanka have prevailed in 14
Ravindra Jadeja needs two more wickets to equal Mitchell McClenaghan as the highest wicket-taker for the year.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (capt), R Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav


Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne

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