Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey

I think most cricket fans expected India to bounce back in the 2nd ODI after an awful performance in Dharmasala. However, the manner in which they went about it was stunning, and would have exceeded just about everyone’s expectations.

Thanks to Rohit Sharma, the stand in India captain, India have an opportunity to stretch their winning streak in ODI series to eight. Staring an embarrassing ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in the face before he walked out to bat in Mohali, Rohit Sharma ensured India didn’t have a start like they did in Dharmasala, and then exploding in the latter part of the innings. The ability to change gears in an instant is a sign of a fine player, and this is exemplified in his numbers. Before Rohit reaches a century, his strike rate is 92. After he reaches his century, this strike rate explodes to 204. He will be hoping for another influential innings in the 3rd ODI to help wrap the series for India.

India would have also been pleased to have had contributions from Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, with the latter just in his second game. Iyer also displayed a nice change in gears towards the latter part of the innings, after rotating the strike really well in the early part of his innings to ensure the scoring rate always remained healthy.

Shreyas Iyer played really well for his 88 in the 2nd ODI.

India’s bowlers have faced two extremes this series. First, they had to try defend 112, and then they were presented with a total of 392 to defend in the 2nd ODI. They threatened to make a game of things in the 1st ODI, and then cruised through in the 2nd ODI, giving Sri Lanka no chance of chasing the mammoth total, despite Angelo Mathews’ unbeaten 111.

For Sri Lanka, this is a massive opportunity for them. Their ODI record in 2017 has been well documented, but an ODI series win in India will really be a nice finish to a rotten year, and will offer fresh hope for them heading into their assignment in Bangladesh in early 2018. They have not won a bilateral ODI series against India since 1997 – can they somehow fight back from the 2nd ODI thrashing?

Angelo Mathews tried hard but needs more support from his team.

Key to an India win

As the 2nd ODI showed, when India’s batsmen fire, they have too much firepower for Sri Lanka to handle.

India were merciless in the face of a series defeat in Mohali and need to display the same ruthlessness in Visakhapatnam. India will need strong contributions once again from their top order players.

In the decider against New Zealand recently, it was Virat Kohli who stepped up with a century. In the 2nd ODI with the series on the line, it was Rohit who stepped up, with good support from Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer. Who will step up this time?

Key to a Sri Lanka win


Sri Lanka can’t be discouraged after what happened in the 2nd ODI. Rather, they need to remind themselves of what they did in the 1st ODI.

Again, Sri Lanka’s bowling presents their best chance to pick up an upset series win. They’ll need a performance like Suranga Lakmal in the first ODI, as well as ensure they are far less predictable in the slog overs.

The way they went about their bowling and field placements suggested they weren’t thinking clear under the wave of Indian pressure. Sri Lanka need to go into this game with no fear, and believe that India’s somewhat untested middle order can be exposed.

Predicted teams

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