As the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka began on Sunday, India welcomed two new players who made their international ODI debuts. While India’s experienced players are in England for a Test series, coach Rahul Dravid welcomed Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to the relatively inexperienced squad.
“It’s obviously a great achievement. It’s lovely to welcome two people into the family. It is a result of a lot of the hard work for each of these boys, not only for them but also for their families,” Dravid said while welcoming both Ishan and Surya.
🎥 🎥: That moment when @ishankishan51 & @surya_14kumar received their respective #TeamIndia ODI caps 👏 👏#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/DjfSpSXjtG
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 18, 2021
In the series opener at R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first. Both teams are somewhat inexperienced fielding teams.
For Sri Lanka, with the older players constantly failing to win matches and also involved in a salary dispute with the cricket board, Sri Lanka’s selectors opted for a youth policy.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, a batsman who has represented Sri Lanka in seven Twenty20 matches, makes his ODI debut. Shanaka replaced Kusal Perera as captain, who has been ruled out of the series due to injury. Sanju Samson, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, could be ruled out of the white-ball series against Sri Lanka after sustaining a knee ligament injury during a training session, ruling him out of the opening ODI on Sunday.
“Sanju Samson sprained a ligament in his knee and was hence not available for selection for this game. The medical team is tracking his progress at the moment,” BCCI’s media team informed.
Three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals are scheduled for the Sri Lanka series. Shikhar Dhawan is the captain of the Indian squad, with Rahul Dravid as head coach.
