Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

SL vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs IND 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs India 1st ODI Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report

Sri Lanka’s cricketers are now physically out of isolation. However, Sri Lanka are plunging further and further into isolation on the international cricketing radar, as their disappointing decline hit another low in their recent tour of England. And, to make things worse, skipper Kusal Perera is out for six weeks after suffering a shoulder injury, further deepening Sri Lanka’s woes as they could end up bottom of the ODI Super League table by the end of this game.

One has to ask how a nation that was so strong for so long end up in this position? Domestic structures are all over the place and those at board level don’t have a clear strategy of where to go next. Worse, Dhananjaya de Silva, who was a positive for Sri Lanka in England, is in doubt to due to back complaint. Indeed, it is easy to see why a new-look India are overwhelming favourites to take out both the ODI and T20I series, with fans, pundits and general followers of the game wondering where Sri Lanka can get the upper hand.

Shikhar Dhawan leads an India squad filled with talent. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Chahar, among others, have lit up the domestic scene. No doubt, all who get an opportunity for India here will be looking to make the most of it to stay on the selectors’ radar for future series. With competition for places heating up by the second, a big series here will do wonders.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

• In the absence of Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando will have a key role to play at the top of the order. He scored 20 in his only ODI vs India to date, back in 2019.
• Sri Lanka will be hoping that Dhananjaya de Silva is fit to play. He scored 91 in the recent ODI series against England. He scored 29* off 36 balls in his only ODI vs India back in 2019.
• Wanindu Hasaranga has been a shining light in a dark period for Sri Lankan cricket. In his last eight ODIs, he has scored 47, 80*, 74, 6, 18, 54, 26 and 20. However, he will be looking to improve on his five wickets in nine ODIs this year (avg. 64.60), despite a good economy rate of 4.36.
• Akila Dananjaya has taken 14 wickets in six ODIs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo (avg. 17.71).
• Dushmantha Chameera has also been a positive for the Sri Lankans. He has taken 18 wickets in his last eight white-ball internationals, including excellent performances against a strong England side. He took 0/104 in 17 overs vs India in 2017, so he and his team will be hoping for a significant improvement this time around.

India:

• Shikhar Dhawan has been outstanding in white-ball cricket over the past couple of years. And, he loves playing against Sri Lanka. In 19 ODIs against them, Dhawan has slammed 983 runs at an average of 70.21, including four centuries and five half-centuries.
• Prithvi Shaw has enjoyed a terrific 2021 in white-ball cricket after a tough 2020. Shaw absolutely dominated the Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing 827 runs in eight matches at an unbelievable average of 165.40. This included a score of 227*.
• Suryakumar Yadav is set to make his ODI debut. In five matches in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Yadav struck 332 runs at 61.40. When you couple this with his superb IPL performances, Yadav is certainly one to watch.
• Surprisingly, Hardik Pandya has a poor ODI batting record vs Sri Lanka (6 inns, 53 runs, avg. 10.60). His finishing could be something to behold here, especially if India’s top order sets a great platform.
• Will Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit his straps right away? He was superb earlier this year before getting injured, taking six wickets in three ODIs vs England. Against Sri Lanka, Kumar has taken 17 wickets in 13 ODIs at an average of 29.88, including 5/42 in his last ODI at this ground.
• If Kuldeep Yadav plays, he will be keen to take the opportunity with both hands given his difficult moments in recent years. In 2017, Kuldeep took three wickets in two ODIs in Sri Lanka at an average of 23.66 and economy rate of just 3.80.

Possible Playing 11

According to Island Cricket, Dhananjaya de Silva has suffered an injury scare at training. He went for CT scans for a back complaint, so it remains to be seen if the vice-captain is fit to play.

Also, Binura Fernando is not expected to be fit for this ODI series.

Sri Lanka: 1. Avishka Fernando, 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, 5. Minod Bhanuka (wk), 6. Wanindu Hasaranga, 7. Dasun Shakana (c), 8. Isura Udana, 9. Akila Dananjaya, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Lahiru Kumara/Lakshan Sandakan

There are also a number of different possibilities for India’s XI. However, the tourists look in a much healthier place than their opposition, with a number of talented players to choose from.

Prithvi Shaw has been outstanding in white-ball cricket in 2021, and is likely to open according to reports. Also, Sanju Samson could be the man picked to don the gloves, and India could go for three spinning options if Hardik bowls.

India: 1. Shikhar Dhawan (c), 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Sanju Samson (wk), 5. Manish Pandey, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Kuldeep Yadav/Rahul Chahar, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

Since 2017, it has been pretty even between setting and chasing teams on this ground. And, this ground has traditionally been a beauty for batting. The team batting first won four of seven ODIs between 2017 and 2019, with an average first innings score of 303.43.

The forecast is for mostly cloudy weather with a chance of some showers throughout the day.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Sri Lanka are scrambling just to be competitive. India is a side full of talented players looking to make a mark.

India to win.