IND vs SL Live Updates: India’s stalwart batsman Virat Kohli surpassed iconic Sachin Tendulkar’s record by becoming the batsman with most thousand runs scored in a single year in the ODI format.
The former India captain, however, failed to match Sachin’s record of most ODI centuries (49).
Virat crossed the thousand run mark in the 50-over format against his favorite opposition Sri Lanka in the ongoing World Cup on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.
In his decorated career, Virat crossed the four-figure mark for the eighth time, which came during 2011-14, 2017-19 and 2023.
Sachin crossed the four-figure mark in a single year in the ODI format seven times in 1994, 1996–98, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
Kohli’s knock of 88 (94) was his 10th 50-plus score in the ODIs this year. Shubman Gill leads the chart with twelve 50-plus ODI scores in 2023.
Virat’s game-changing knock against the Lions also brought up his 118th 50-plus score in the ODI format.
Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bat against India in their World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
Dushan Hemantha comes in for Dhananjaya de Silva for Sri Lanka, while India field the same eleven that beat England by 100 runs.
Playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (w/c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
Twelve years after that dream night in April 2011, when a country of billions landed in a frenzy of joy, India face Sri Lanka in another World Cup clash in Mumbai on Thursday, albeit one that is poles apart from being called an encore.
If that World Cup final was truly a battle of titans in every sense, the upcoming competition is more or less a battle of unequals.
India have so far marched immaculately in search of a third title and Sri Lanka have lost more than they have won.
Unbeaten in six straight games and largely unchallenged for longer spells, India have shown traits of being a champion side that has the knack of staging remarkable counter-fights.
India’s confidence is irrefutably high but greater is their self-belief and confidence in abilities – witnessed in the mini storm created by Australia in Chennai when reduced to 2/3 or when England restricted them to a modest 229/9 in Lucknow.
The tenacity to keep hammering England until the defending champions fell apart was not just another display of their potential, but also a sign that India’s opponents need to raise the bar significantly higher when it comes to facing Rohit Sharma’s team in this World Cup.
Coming in as a forced pick with India looking to respond to Hardik Pandya’s absence by creating ‘balance’, Mohammed Shami has only provided the happiest of selection headaches with nine wickets – including a fifer – in just two appearances. But the think tank led by captain Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid knows that ‘Special Shami’ must be saved for bigger battles ahead – as India would still need Jasprit Bumrah fresh and firing to reign through remaining challenges in the league stage.
There is still no news on Pandya’s return, but going into this game, there would be lingering concerns about how India’s young guns will fare. Both Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer came into the World Cup with consistent performances in the one-day format, but are yet to make a strong dent on the tournament.
Gill missed two games at the start and has only one fifty to show for his return. He has been guilty of going out for what are called “soft dismissals” and the young batsman would know that the stage is set for him to crack again. At 1,334 runs (24 matches, 5x100s, 6x50s, average 63.52), Gill is. still a considerable distance (560 runs) behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in terms of getting the most ODI runs in a year.
With his weaknesses against the short ball once again becoming the opposition’s weapon against him, Iyer will also need a big knock. He has just one fifty to show from six outings so far.
Iyer’s unbeaten 53 came in the chase against Pakistan when the opposition were down and out but the right-handed batsman also fell on occasions where there were opportunities to hit big and finish games.
There will be extra motivation to put that behind when Iyer steps out at the Wankhede Stadium, playing a World Cup game on his home ground.
For that matter, the feeling would be the same for local boys Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur. India’s leading run-scorer with 398 runs at 66.33 with one century and two fifties in the World Cup, Rohit will want to make more memories with the bat in front of his raucous and passionate home crowd.
Sri Lanka are no pushovers but they have faltered more often than not in this World Cup after a superlative show in the qualifying round. Injuries and unavailability of key players have also blighted the island nation’s team, but its young brigade should do the most a part of facing a high quality opponent in his pomp.
Sadeera Samarawickrama had a good run with 331 runs in six games, hitting one century and fifty in the process to be Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer.
Pathum Nissanka also did well to become only the second batsman after Gill to score over a thousand ODI runs this year. His four consecutive fifties in the World Cup make him one to watch out for as his tally now stands at 1,108 runs in 26 matches at 48.17 with two centuries and nine fifties.
But captain Kusal Mendis with his artistry with the bat remains Sri Lanka’s best batsman even though the venerable Angelo Mathews is back and has already delivered a match-winning performance.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers have largely done a fair job as they have missed the presence of more experienced bowlers, but given their resources they will hope to battle the rampant Indian batsmen in perfect batting conditions.