Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe in the first of the three-match ODI series in Colombo on Saturday, January 6. The match starts from 2.30 pm IST. The weather forecast for this match in Colombo does not look good.
Sri Lanka will be led by a new ODI skipper in Kusal Mendis. He has taken over from Dasun Shanaka as the full-time skipper. He also led Sri Lanka in a few games in the World Cup with Shanaka ruled out midway through the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s subdued performance in the World Cup led the thinktank to change captains across formats. The selection committee led by Upul Tharanga named three different cations across formats for the national team. Kusal Mendis will lead in ODIs, Wanindu Hasaranga in T20Is and Dhananjaya de Silva in T20Is.
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Meanwhile, as per latest reports, Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the three-match series with dengue. There are doubts over Hasaranga’s availability for the first ODI as he is recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s experienced bowling attack is their real strength in this series. Akila Dananjaya has been recalled. Dusmantha Chameera will lead the pace attack with Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan is likely to pair up with him.
Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe – 1st ODI, 2024
Avishka Fernando
Fernando will open the batting for Sri Lanka. The promising opener has played 29 ODIs and is closing in on 1000 ODI runs for the national side. With Nissanka out, he is likely to open the batting.
Nuwanidu Fernando
The other Fernando will be the other opener. He made his ODI debut against India last year and since then he has played 4 ODIs and one T20I for the national side. He has already scored a fifty in ODIs.
Kusal Mendis (C/WK)
Kusal Mendis will lead the side and bat at three. He will also keep for the team. The keeper-batter was named as Sri Lanka’s full-time ODI skipper replacing Dasun Shanaka. Media scored 294 runs in the recently concluded World Cup.
Charith Asalanka
Asalanka will bat at four. He has been named the vice-captain of the ODI and T20I squads. The southpaw plays attacking cricket in the middle-order and will be expected to bat his best in the series. He bowls part-time off-spin as well.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Samarawickrama will bat at five. He is another keeper-batter option in the side. He played in the World Cup and was Sri Lanka’s top-scorer in the tournament with 373 runs from nine matches at an average of 53.29.
Dasun Shanaka
Shanaka will bat at six. He was recently axed from the leadership role but is a part of this ODI series. His experience as a skipper is something that he would like to share with the youngsters.
Wanindu Hasaranga / Dunith Wellalage
Hasaranga is doubtful for the first ODI as he is down with a hamstring injury. In case e doesn’t play, Dunith Wellalage is the other option that can be tried at number seven. Both are quality lower-order all-rounders as well.
Dusmantha Chameera
Chameera will lead the pace attack. He missed the early phase of the World Cup with injury and returned to play four games in the World Cup in which he picked up just two wickets. He will look to start the new year on a good note.
Dilshan Madushanka
Madushanka will be the second pacer in the XI. He was recently picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 auction after his World Cup exploits. He picked up 21 wickets in the tournament.
Pramod Madushan
Madushan will be the third pacer in the lineup. He made his debut last year against India and so far has played three ODIs and 8 T20Is for Sri Lanka. His last game was the Asia Cup 2023 final last year.
Maheesh Theekshana
Theekshana concludes the likely playing XI for Sri Lanka. He is the second specialist spinner in the side. He played the World Cup for Sri Lanka picking up just six wickets from 8 games.
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