đCricket World Cup 2023: Match #33: India vs Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 02/11/2023 at 2PM IST đ
India look to seal semi-final spot against struggling Sri Lanka
The two teams will play an ODI at the Wankhede for the first time since the 2011 World Cup final
India. Sri Lanka. The Wankhede. The last time these two teams played an ODI at this venue, the occasion was the 2011 World Cup final. Twelve years later, though, things are a little different.
India have lived up to the billing of being the pre-tournament favourites. They have won all of their six matches so far despite missing Shubman Gill for their first two and Hardik Pandya for the last two. If they beat Sri Lanka on Thursday, they will become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka, who made it to this World Cup via the Qualifier route, are struggling to stay alive. They have just four points from six games and are coming off the back of a loss to Afghanistan. Another defeat will push them to the brink of elimination.
India will once again be without Hardik, who is unlikely to return before India's final league match, against Netherlands. That means they could go in with just five frontline bowlers yet again, with a tail starting from No. 8.
Sri Lanka, too, have lost multiple players to injuries, including their designated captain Dasun Shanaka. In his absence, Kusal Mendis took over the reins but it seems to have affected his batting. In the first two games, when Shanaka was the captain, Mendis smashed 198 runs at a strike rate of 166.38. Since then, he has managed just 70 in four innings at a strike rate of 76.08.
Can he find his mojo and inspire his side to a much-needed win? Because not only the semi-final spot is at stake but also the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification.
Tag Credit: Sutapasima
Anupamaa
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