India Aims for Comeback in 3rd ODI Against Sri Lanka

India will be looking to redeem themselves in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka on August 7. The match is set to take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the hosts currently lead the series 1-0.

After an electrifying first match that ended in a tie, India faced a tough loss in the second ODI, losing by 32 runs. Captain Rohit Sharma has been the standout performer for India, amassing 122 runs across two innings, while Axar Patel trails with 77 runs.

On the bowling side, Washington Sundar has been the leading wicket-taker for India, claiming four wickets. Kuldeep Yadav has contributed three wickets, with Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh each taking two. However, they’ve all been outshone by Sri Lanka’s Jeffrey Vandersay, who impressed everyone in the last match with remarkable figures of 6 wickets for just 33 runs.

Asalanka’s team has demonstrated great resilience with the bat as well, with Dunith Wellalage standing out as their top-scorer with 106 runs in the series so far. Historical context shows India and Sri Lanka have clashed 170 times in ODIs, with India winning 99 matches and Sri Lanka securing 58 victories.

The spinners have noticeably thrived at the Premadasa Stadium this series, and with rain possibly looming—about a 40% chance on August 7—conditions may play an unpredictable role in the game. Fans are hopeful to see Virat Kohli and other Indian players finally step up as they fight for the series equalizer.

In the lead-up to the match, the teams are likely to strategize heavily around the spin-friendly conditions of the pitch. Both sides are expected to heavily feature spinners in their lineups, with India possibly making changes to include more spin options.