India has maintained a flawless record in the tournament so far, leaving fans and experts awestruck. In six consecutive matches, the Men in Blue have remained undefeated and often unchallenged for extended periods. It seems like a distant memory when India was reeling at 2/3 in the opening game against Australia last month. Since then, Rohit Sharma’s men, powered by consistent bowling performances and exemplary displays in batting, have gone on a winning streak that shows no signs of ending.
Despite an injury setback in Hardik Pandya, India’s performances haven’t been impacted. Mohammed Shami has stepped up in style, picking up 9 wickets in just two appearances. Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid understand the importance of preserving “Special Shami” for more critical challenges. They recognize the need to have Jasprit Bumrah in top form to navigate the remaining obstacles in the group stage.
Hardik Pandya’s return remains uncertain, leaving concerns about how India’s younger players will fare in his absence. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer arrived at the World Cup with one-day solid records but have yet to make a significant impact on the tournament.
Gill, who missed the initial matches, has only managed one fifty since his return, often falling to “soft dismissals.” Despite his 1,334 runs in 24 matches with an average of 63.52, he still lags behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar by 560 runs in terms of the most ODI runs in a year. Gill’s struggles against short-pitched deliveries have made him a target for opponents.
Similarly, Iyer has only one fifty in six outings and has occasionally missed the chance to play substantial innings to close out games. He will be motivated to put these shortcomings behind him as he plays a World Cup match at his home, the Wankhede Stadium.
Local players Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shardul Thakur share this motivation, aiming to create memorable moments in front of their passionate home crowd.
‘If You Want To Win The World Cup, Then You Have To Beat…’, Gautam Gambhir Comes With An Interesting Analysis
On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami remain a force to reckon with, while Siraj had a rare off day in the previous game against England and will aim to make a strong return.
Among spinners, Kuldeep Yadav remains as tormenting as ever, while Ravindra Jadeja has proved lethal whenever the captain calls.
India’s Predicted XI vs Sri Lanka, ODI World Cup 2023
Openers- Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill
Top and middle-order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav
All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav
Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
