Now India Begins Days of Rivalry as They Face Sri Lanka

The ODI series of India and Sri Lanka started from the 3rd of August, 2024 with the series opener in Colombo. The first match was closely contested and the two sides were all square at 248 all. Sri Lanka batted first in the match and India recovered to equal the score and thus lead to the sensational finish. The series was looked forward to as it was expected to be a major confrontation between the two cricket playing nations.

Entering the Game

The first One day international match between India and Sri Lanka taking place on 3 rd. August 2024 was no result match. The two teams made 248 runs each and this was decided in the final over. Sri Lanka elected to bat first, and Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando gave a good start. India’s run chase was driven by Virat Kohli once again but the score was tied at the target Sri Lanka put on the board. This paved way for a very hard-fought series and in the end, Sri Lanka emerged as the winner of the series with a-margin of 2-nil.

The second ODI in the series was played on August 5, 2024, where the Sri Lanka team outplayed the Indian team and won the match by 32 runs. In all, Sri Lanka reached a total of 223 for loss, which was boosted mainly by the middle order batsmen. India’s chase was halted by the spinners from Sri Lanka who took important wicket at a d interval between overs. India could not handle spin and bring together a big partnership and fold at 191 all out. This win put Sri Lanka 1-0 up in the series, and enabled the Sri Lankans to go on and win the series.

The last ODI series between India and Sri Lanka saw Sri Lanka triumph in the third game by 110 runs; they also emerged series winners by 2–0. Avishka Fernando made 96 of Sri Lanka’s 248/7 in 50 overs. In response, India was all out for 138 in 26 overs. 1 over, with Rohit Sharma as the highest run getter for India with 35 runs to his credit. Noteworthy was the debut of the Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage who took 5 wickets.

Sri Lanka’s Captaincy speaks of the win

This was Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win against India in a period of 27 years​. In the ODI series against India, Sri Lanka was led by Charith Asalanka, who took over the captaincy for the series. Till date, the result that can be attributed to him directly is winning a series against India in Sri Lanka and that team achieved it after waiting for 27 years. For instance, Asalanka’s leadership was credited for being efficient in leading the team, the main constraint of having several key players being crippled with injuries. This series showed that how Sri Lankan team was equally exploiting slow bowling which turned out to be a decisive factor in these triumphs.

• The schedule for the India vs. Sri Lanka ODI series in August 2024 is as follows:
• 1st ODI: On the 3rd day of August in the year 2024 at Colombo The match was drawn.
• 2nd ODI: 5th August 2024 at Colombo Sri Lanka was winner by 32 runs.
• 3rd ODI: Playing at Colombo on 7-August, 2024 Sri Lanka emerged victorious by 110 runs and thus the series was won by Sri Lanka 2-0.
• All games were staged at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

Key players to watch in the India vs. Sri Lanka ODI series include:

Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka): One of the best bowler, who swings his arms in and around the pitch to bowl spin and who claimed two fantastic five wickets in the series.
Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka): Important customer of the top-order, who scored crucial runs, including the nearly hundred in the third ODI.
Rohit Sharma (India): India’s skipper and leading run-getter of series but whose activities proved not enough for his side to clinch wins.
Washington Sundar (India): Player who could both bat as well as bowl, thus was a versatile player.