Massive image: Two groups with contrasting fortunes
India. Sri Lanka. The Wankhede. The final time these two groups performed an ODI at this venue, the event was the 2011 World Cup final. Twelve years later, although, issues are a bit completely different.
India have lived as much as the billing of being the pre-tournament favourites. They’ve received all of their six matches to date regardless of lacking Shubman Gill for his or her first two and Hardik Pandya for the final two. In the event that they beat Sri Lanka on Thursday, they’ll turn out to be the primary crew to qualify for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka, who made it to this World Cup by way of the Qualifier route, are struggling to remain alive. They’ve simply 4 factors from six video games and are coming off the again of a loss to Afghanistan. One other defeat will push them to the brink of elimination.
India will as soon as once more be with out Hardik, who’s unlikely to return before India’s final league match, towards Netherlands. Meaning they might go in with simply 5 frontline bowlers but once more, with a tail ranging from No. 8.
Sri Lanka, too, have misplaced a number of gamers to accidents, together with their designated captain Dasun Shanaka. In his absence, Kusal Mendis took over the reins nevertheless it appears to have affected his batting. Within the first two video games, when Shanaka was the captain, Mendis smashed 198 runs at a strike fee of 166.38. Since then, he has managed simply 70 in 4 innings at a strike fee of 76.08.
Can he discover his mojo and encourage his aspect to a much-needed win? As a result of not solely the semi-final spot is at stake but in addition the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification.
Kind information: India’s profitable streak
India WWWWW (final 5 ODIs, most up-to-date first)
Sri Lanka LWWLL
Within the highlight: Shreyas Iyer and Angelo Mathews
Shreyas Iyer got here into this World Cup as India’s first-choice No. 4, and in six innings to date he has 134 runs at a mean of 33.50. These will not be unhealthy numbers however such is the competitors on this Indian aspect that they assure nothing. That he fell to the quick ball – an previous weak spot – within the earlier two video games would not assist both. He wants an enormous rating within the subsequent two video games, or else India might contemplate leaving him out as soon as Hardik is again.
Angelo Mathews was not presupposed to be in India for this World Cup. However now that he’s right here, Sri Lanka ought to make the very best use of his skills – making him bat at No. 7 shouldn’t be the best way to go. Mathews has an excellent record against India: a mean of 53.57 and a strike fee of 84.93, along with his all three ODI tons of coming towards them. For those who contemplate the matches performed in India, that common virtually doubles to 105.16 and the strike fee swells to 96.77.
Workforce information: Will Wellalage get an opportunity?
With Hardik unavailable, India are prone to discipline an unchanged XI.
India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka might contemplate bringing in Dinuth Wellalage for Dhananjaya de Silva.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dinuth Wellalage/Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Kasun Rajitha, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Dushmantha Chameera
Pitch and circumstances: Runs galore
The Wankhede is all the time stuffed with runs. The venue has hosted two video games to date this World Cup, the place South Africa, batting first on every event, posted 399 and 382. Anticipate an identical, high-scoring recreation as soon as once more. The temperature will hover round 35°C, with no forecast of rain.
Stats and trivia: Kohli on the cusp of information
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Virat Kohli (48) is one in need of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s document of most ODI hundreds.
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Kohli is on the verge of breaking one other Tendulkar document. At present, each are tied for 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year on most events (seven). Kohli wants simply one other 34 runs this 12 months to go previous Tendulkar.
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If Shreyas Iyer scores 65 runs in his subsequent three innings, he’ll turn out to be the third-fastest Indian to 2000 ODI runs.
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Mathews has dismissed Rohit Sharma seven times in ODIs – greater than some other bowler – together with twice on zero. In opposition to Mathews, Rohit averages 14.71 at a strike fee of 58.85.
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Sadeera Samarawickrama is 54 away from 1000 ODI runs. If he will get there on Thursday, he would be the joint-fastest Sri Lankan, alongside Roy Dias (27 innings), to get there.
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Maheesh Theekshana is three in need of 50 ODI wickets.
Quotes
“I feel it is a floor the place issues will be fairly unpredictable at occasions, like there’s a lot in it for the bowlers as effectively. So you’ll be able to see most likely a prime spell coming from the bowlers, rattling the opposition, that may occur. It is a high-scoring floor, however on the similar time, if the bowlers put the ball in the proper space, it may be barely tough.”
Rohit Sharma on the Wankhede pitch
“Fortunately we do have a couple of people who find themselves in kind. I imply Kusal [Mendis] has performed some tremendous knocks right here, Sadeera has been Mr. Constant, as has Pathum [Nissanka] on the prime of the order.”
Head coach Chris Silverwood on the few issues which might be going proper for Sri Lanka’s batting order