Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat

Charith Asalanka: We are going to bat first. It looks like a dry pitch and that's the reason. We are going with 6-5 combination. Shiraz is making his debut today. We have to improve our mental skills, we did some bad things in the last game but that is the past and we are looking forward to this game. It is a concern as a captain but I am looking forward to going with my second line of bowling.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat

Pitch and Conditions: "It doesn't look too bad (the pitch). It is pleasant out here. But you wear black or woolen clothens then you are sweating up a storm. This pitch was used for the LPL Qualifier but you can't really tell as the footmarks have disappeared. Very little grass covering. It may turn. And it could be a little tacky. I expect there to be some runs and batting to be easier under lights," reckons Scott Styris.

Sri Lanka have played three ODI series since the World Cup last year, they won two against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan while losing the other to Bangladesh. There has been a lot of chopping and changing in the leadership roles and that hasn't allowed them to have consistency in this format. Kusal Mendis was the captain during the World Cup and the three series that followed but he has been replaced by Charith Asalanka. However, they have generally done well at home and their last series defeat came in 2021 against India. So that should boost their morale even though they will be without some of their key bowlers - Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madhushanka. They do have an experienced spin attack and the pair of Hasaranga and Theekshana have to shoulder the responsibility. Sri Lanka haven't beaten India in a bilateral series for a long time. Can they change that? We shall find out..

13:30 Local Time, 08:00 GMT, 13:30 IST: The T20I series marked the start of the Gautam Gambhir era. Now a new chapter begins in ODIs with the focus being on the Champions Trophy next year followed by the 2027 World Cup. India have their big guns - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - back for the first time since the loss to Australia in the World Cup final. Rohit will continue to lead the side and this will be his first series with Gambhir. The Surya-Gambhir pair got off to a cracking start. How will the Rohit-Gambhir duo fare? There also some selections dilemmas that need answering. KL Rahul was the keeper-batter during the World Cup but Rishabh Pant is back. So is it going to be one of them or is there space for both? India have also picked four all rounders - Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. How many of these four can make it to the XI? We shall find out the answers at the toss..

Preview by Aayush Puthran

Except for the players, the support staff, the cameramen, and the organisers, everyone who could afford the luxury of taking shade opted for it on Thursday (August 1) afternoon at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Well, everyone except two enthusiastic gentlemen in the square stands, who tirelessly waved the Indian flag as the team practised, possibly signalling the dawn of a new era in Indian cricket. Or maybe they just really love waving flags.

Even before the euphoria of the T20 World Cup win had a chance to fade, Rohit Sharma is gearing up to lead his side in yet another global event in six months. This time, it's a different format, one that India haven't dipped their toes into for more than half of 2024. With only six scheduled games to find their rhythm before the Champions Trophy next year, the Indian captain has clarified that the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka in Colombo will not be played on a 'practice ground'. International cricket is serious business, he asserted, even if a few experiments are on the agenda.

India's ODI setup, largely intact from one of their best World Cup campaigns in 2023, now awaits the touch of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. In the eight months since that tournament, India have played only three ODIs, all under the captaincy of KL Rahul. Yet, the return of Rohit promises more than just familiar faces. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for the upcoming series, while Mohammed Shami is still on his way back to full fitness. Their absence creates an opportunity for the backups to get gametime in some crucial roles.

The bigger question for India, though, is the curious case of the wicketkeeper's slot. With KL Rahul doing a commendable job in Rishabh Pant's absence, is there still room for the southpaw to return to the XI, having not played the 50-over format for nearly two years? The notable absence of any other left-hander in the top six of a full-strength lineup is his big advantage. The Indian captain has kept his cards close to his chest about who will be India's No. 1 wicketkeeper, but it's a dilemma he seems quite content to mull over.

While India might be aiming for another cleansweep, their opponents, Sri Lanka, battered by recent defeats and a string of injuries - six frontline fast bowlers down - will be equally eager, if not desperate, to notch a win. Despite lacking the urgency unlike India to prepare for the 2025 Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka's determination to break their losing streak adds an additional layer of intrigue to the series. And who knows, maybe more flag-waving gentlemen will have reasons to celebrate on Friday night.

When: Friday, August 2, 2024, 2:30 PM (Local Time)

Where: Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

What to expect: Scattered showers are forecast for Friday, and there is a possibility that a third game in a row in this ongoing India tour of Sri Lanka will be impacted by rain and wet outfield. If the match remains unhampered, it should be a reasonably low scoring affair. Since 2022, 13 ODIs have been played at the venue with an average first innings score of 225. However, for teams who have won batting first, their average score has shot up to 270.

Team News:

Sri Lanka: The hosts have been hit further by two more of their fast bowlers getting ruled out due to injuries, taking the total of fast bowler injuries to six. Dilshan Madushanka has suffered a Grade 2 injury to his left hamstring while Matheesha Pathirana has injured his shoulder. Uncapped fast bowlers Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga were included in the squad a day ahead of the first game.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Mahesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando

India: Rishabh Pant has returned to the ODI side after having last featured in a 50-over contest almost two years ago. The question is whether he will directly replace KL Rahul as the 'keeper of the ODI side or whether he will have to wait his turn. India could also be tempted to try out the uncapped Harshit Rana in the XI, a rare pacer who offers some batting potential lower down the order.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed/Arshdeep Singh

Did you know?

In 10 innings in Colombo, Virat Kohli has scored 644 runs at an average of 107.33, including four centuries

Sadeera Samarawickrama, who is yet to score a run against Mohammed Siraj in ODIs, has been dismissed twice by the Indian pacer

India is yet to play an ODI in 2024

What they said:

"It's not a practice ground this (series), it's still an international game. We will keep in our mind what we would like to achieve as a team but this is by no means preparation or practice or anything like that. We want to come here and play good cricket and get something out of the series, it is as simple as that. Of course, we want to try everything possible but sometimes you got to understand when you're representing the nation, the quality of the cricket you want to play should remain the way it is and how we have played our cricket in the last few years. I think that is more important, more than thinking about it is preparation so 'lets go out and chill in Colombo'" - Rohit Sharma, India captain.

"There is no excuse for us to say anything, and for us to win is the ultimate thing. It's disappointing as a coach, but we have to take the criticism as well, as a coach, as a support staff, as a team. We are taking the responsibility, you cna't go away from that. As long as they realise that, and make sure that, we'll have to keep giving them the confidence and support" - Sanath Jayasauriya, Sri Lanka head coach.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Harshit Rana

Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dananjaya, Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Eshan Malinga