India vs Sri Lanka 2021: The Top 10 Unique ODI Stats and Records
India vs Sri Lanka 2021: Jasprit Bumrah holds most of the records as we look at the ODI records between both teams.
India vs Sri Lanka series is one of those friendly series that you often play in your neighborhood. Unsurprisingly enough, India have played Sri Lanka the most in their ODI cricket history. Not just that, India have a superb W/L ratio against Sri Lanka; their best against any top-ranked team.
Historically, India have played 159 ODIs against Sri Lanka with India winning 91 and Sri Lanka winning 56. The last time India lost a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka was in 1997; 2 years before Team India’s youngest sensation, Prithvi Shaw was born.
While Sri Lanka of the late 90s and 2000s was one of the strongest teams, the current team is not even 50% of what the team of that era was. To compensate for that, India have sent their B team with most of the senior players selected for the Test Series vs England.
As we wait for the series to begin, how about we take a look at some of the most interesting stats and records for the India vs Sri Lanka ODI series. As usual, we would divide the records into three categories; Team, batting & bowling. Each category would have a unique set of records to portray.
India vs Sri Lanka ODI Team Records:
Total ODIs Played: 159
India: 91 // Sri Lanka: 56 // Tied: 1 // NR: 11
#1: Highest Team Total
The highest team total and also the second-highest team total belongs to the same match played in 2009. It was the match in which Sehwag blasted his way to a brilliant century before Dilshan almost pulled off an improbable win. The highest score stands at 414/7 for India whereas the second-highest score stands at 411/8. The third-highest score belongs to Team India thanks to Rohit Sharma’s record 264 runs.
#2: Highest Successful Run Chase
In what we can call an upset during the Champions Trophy 2017, Sri Lanka pulled off the highest successful chase against India. A combined team effort by Gunthalika, Mathews, Kusal Perera, and Mendis helped Sri Lanka chase 322 in 49 overs. The other two successful chases belong to Team India with 321/3 coming in 2012 and 317/3 coming in 2009.
#3: Lowest Team Total
The lowest team total belong to Team India when they were bundled out for just 54. This was the same match in which Sanath Jayasuriya scripted his highest individual score of 189. For India, Robin Singh was the only double-digit scorer with 11. The second-lowest score of 78 in 1986 also belongs to India and the third-lowest belongs to Sri Lanka when they were bundled out for 96 in 1984.
India vs Sri Lanka ODI Batting Records:
#1: Most Runs Overall
Most runs overall belong to Sachin Tendulkar, who has 3113 runs to his name from 80 innings at an average of 43.8 and a strike rate of 87.5. Sanath Jayasuriya isn’t far behind with 2899 runs. He is also closely followed by Kumar Sangakkara at 2700 runs. From the current batsmen, Virat Kohli has 2220 runs.
#2: Most Runs in a Series
Tillakaratne Dilshan during the epic 2009 series scored a fantastic 353 runs from just 5 innings at an average of 70.6. MS Dhoni closely follows him with 346 runs at an average of 115.3 in the 2005 home series. Angelo Mathews isn’t far behind with 339 runs from 5 innings in 2014.
#3: Best Batting Average (Min 500 runs)
Surprisingly enough, but it is not Sachin, Rohit, or Kohli, but Shikhar Dhawan with the best batting average against Sri Lanka. The southpaw has scored 983 runs from just 16 innings at a brilliant average of 70.2. He is followed by Captain Cool Dhoni at 64.4 average and Virat Kohli at 60 average.
#4: Best Batting Strike Rate (Min 500 runs)
Talk about batting strike rate, and Virender Sehwag is always a constant. The Nawab of Najafgarh has scored 1699 runs against Sri Lanka at a superb strike-rate of 110.2. Shikhar Dhawan closely follows him with 983 runs at a strike rate of 98.3. Third on the list is Sanath Jayasuriya with 2899 runs at a strike rate of 96.9.
#5: Highest Individual Score
Even with two double-hundreds, Rohit Sharma doesn’t have that good a record as expected. But that takes nothing away from the two highest scores of 264 and 208 he has against Sri Lanka in 2014 and 2017 respectively. Sanath Jayasuriya’s 189 in 2000 is third on the list.
#6: Most 50+ Scores
Sachin Tendulkar with 25 has the most 50+ scores against Sri Lanka in ODIs. He has 8 centuries and 17 fifties to his name. Kumar Sangakkara is second on the list with 24 fifty+ scores. MS Dhoni, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Mahela Jawawardane are third on the list with 21 fifty+ scores.
India vs Sri Lanka ODI Bowling Records:
#1: Most Wickets Overall
The Sri Lankan magician Muthiah Muralidharan is first on the list of most wickets in India vs Sri Lanka ODIs. He has 74 wickets to his name from 59 innings at an average of 31.8 and an economy rate of 4.3. He is followed by Chaminda Vaas at 70 wickets and Zaheer Khan at 66 wickets. Among active cricketers, there’s only Ravindra Jadeja who has the most, 25 wickets.
#2: Most Wickets in a Series
Jasprit Bumrah’s sensational 15 wickets in a series came in 2017 when he was at the peak of his career. He managed to take 15 wickets from just 5 innings at a fantastic average of 11.3 and an economy rate of 3.9. This is followed by Ajantha Mendis’s 13 wickets in 2008 and 12 wickets by Muralidharan in 2000.
#3: Best Bowling Average and Strike Rate (Min 20 wickets)
Jasprit Bumrah is at it again as he has not only the best average but also the best strike rate among all bowlers in India vs Sri Lanka ODIs. He currently has 22 wickets from 10 innings at an average of 16.9, a strike rate of 24, and an economy rate of 4.2.
Ajit Agarkar follows him with 49 wickets at an average of 20.6. Manoj Prabhakar’s follows him with 28 wickets at an average of just 25. Even the bowling strike rate is an all-Indian show with Ajit Agarkar at a strike rate of 24.7 and Ishant at a strike rate of 27.3.
#4: Best Bowling Spell
Coming to the best spell, it is all Sri Lankan show with Mutthiah Murali’s 7/30 in coming in 2000. This is also Muralitharan’s best bowling figures in ODIs. This is followed by Ajantha Mendis’s 6/13 during Asia Cup 2008 final; personally the best spell against India. Matthew’s 6/20 in 2009 is third on the list.
#5: Best Economy Rate
The best economy rate among all bowlers belongs to Kapil Dev, who has 38 wickets at an economy rate of just 3.9. He is followed by Harbhajan Singh with 61 wickets at an economy rate of 4.2. Jasprit Bumrah is third on the list with an economy rate of 4.2.
#6: Most 4-wicket Hauls and Maidens
Ajantha Mendis has the most number of 4-wicket hauls with 4 to his name. He is followed by Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, Javagal Srinath, and Ishant Sharma with 3 each. Coming to the maidens, Chaminda Vaas has 45 to his name. Zaheer Khan follows him at 35 and Kapil Dev at 33. Among active players, Jasprit Bumrah has the most, 8 maidens.
Thanks for reading! Which player will create unique records in the upcoming India vs Sri Lanka ODI series? Please share your valuable feedback to business@cricalytics.com
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Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
