India vs SL 2024: 1st ODI Both Teams Confirmed Playing 11

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return as we look at India vs SL 2024 1st ODI best playing 11 for both teams. 

What a fantastic finale to a one-sided T20 series between India and Sri Lanka we witnessed. India led the series 2-0 while going into the third T20I. With a few senior players rested, Indian bowling led by part-timers Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh shell-shocked Sri Lanka to clinch a low-scoring thriller. Courtesy of that win, India won the one-sided T20 series 3-0.

The duo of Gautam Gambhir and SKY couldn’t have asked for a better start for their leadership career. With the T20 series concluded, the action now moves to the ODIs. We have 3 ODIs in front of us, and each and every ODI shall be important as Team India have very limited playing time before the Champions Trophy 2025. Even Team India are taking it seriously as they have selected a near-to-strength squad with only a couple of players missing from the squad.

The best thing about the ODI series is the return of Team India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Having retired from the T20I format, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be eager to get back on the field. So, with the first ODI being scheduled on August 2nd, let’s look at the best possible playing 11 for India vs SL 1st ODI 2024.

India vs SL 2024 Key Match Details:

Series: India Tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Match Type: SL vs India 1st ODI

Where: Colombo, Sri Lanka

When: August 02, 2024, 2:30 pm IST

India vs Sri Lanka 2024 Official ODI Squad for Indian Team:

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill & Virat Kohli 

WKs: KL Rahul & Rishabh Pant

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube & Washington Sundar

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav & Mohammed Siraj

Team India Playing 11 

If we talk about Team India’s batting lineup, the top 3 remain unchanged from the ones that we have been seeing since last year. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill should open the batting with Virat Kohli playing at his regular number 3 position. Except for not having a left-hander, It’s a perfect setup for the Indian team with all 3 players performing well in their respective positions.

With a settled top 3, the middle order should see a few changes. If we recall, Shreyas Iyer batted at 4 and KL Rahul batted at 5 in the 2023 World Cup. But Hardik’s absence and Pant’s return to ODIs means, India will once again be playing a bowler less. So, expect Shreyas Iyer to play at 4, Rishabh Pant at 5, and KL Rahul at 6. Also, with Pant in the squad, expect him to also keep the wickets above KL Rahul.

Moving to the lower-order, Axar Patel should play at the number 7 position. He is one of the four all-rounders in the side alongside Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, and Riyan Parag. But expect India to play only one of them for the first match. However, in case India decide to have batting depth, Sundar can play above Kuldeep Yadav.

Khaleel Ahmed vs Harshit Rana?

Finally, talking about bowling, it will be interesting to see what combination Team India adopt. With Hardik Pandya, the pace all-rounder not there, India must be compelled to play 3 pacers in the squad. Kuldeep Yadav for sure will lead the spin attack. Meanwhile, Siraj and Arshdeep shall be the two primary pacers, India will have to choose one between Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana.

Now, Khaleel Ahmed is more senior to Harshit Rana, so ideally should be preferred first. But Gautam Gambhir has seen more of Harshit Rana, and he may want to give Harshit more game time above Khaleel. In addition, with India missing the batting depth, Harshit can be a good lower-order batter too. So, expect India to play Harshit Rana above Khaleel Ahmed for the first two ODIs at least. 

India vs SL 2024 1st ODI Best Playing 11 for Indian Team:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana & Mohammed Siraj. 

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India vs SL 2024 Official T20 Squad for Sri Lankan Team

Batters: Avishka Fernando & Pathum Nissanka

Wks: Kusal Mendis, Nishan Madushka & Sadeera Samarawickrama

All-rounders: Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis & Wanindu Hasaranga

Bowlers: Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madhushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana & Maheesh Theekshana

Sri Lanka Best Playing 11 vs India:

Talking about Sri Lanka’s playing 11, we should see a few changes in the playing 11 from the one that we saw in the T20 squad. We should see Kusal Mendis at number 3 with Avishka Fernando opening the batting. Sadeera Samarawickrama should play in the middle-order alongside Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyange. Whereas Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga should play as the finishers. Finally, for bowling, we should see Asita Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, and Maheesh Theekshana. 

India vs SL 2024 1st ODI Best Playing 11 for Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asita Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana & Maheesh Theekshana.

India vs Sri Lanka 2024 1st ODI Best Fantasy Playing 11:

Batters: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer & Virat Kohli

Wks: KL Rahul 

All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga & Axar Patel 

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Matheesha Pathirana, Mohammed Siraj & Arshdeep Singh

CVC Choice: Virat Kohli & Shubman Gill

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for India vs SL 1st ODI 2024? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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