The Indian women’s cricket team will be looking for some stability in their top-order as the visiting team aims to capture the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in the second match here on Monday.
After winning the last T20 series 2-1, India After winning the low-scoring first match by four wickets, they took a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
“Our approach will be the same as before, we have to win the series 3-0 and dominate all the matches. Whatever plans and preparations we have made, we need to execute them,” all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar said at the pre-match press conference.
Despite the easy win, the Indian think tank would be a little worried about the opening pair of vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and the young Shafali Verma.
Both the batsmen have scored some runs but have not been able to convert them into big scores.
The pair have so far failed to form a good partnership on the tour, depriving the team of the electrification they are known for.
And both Mandhana and Verma will be heading for big scores with just two matches left on the tour.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, on the other hand, is loving her role, scoring runs and providing success with her part-time off-spin.
Indian bowlers, especially the slow bowlers, are enjoying the slow and slow pitches of Sri Lanka and have played a key role in the team’s victory on the tour.
Right-arm medium pacer Renuka Singh excelled with 3 for 29, however, Deepti Sharma’s off-break broke Sri Lanka’s backbone and bowled out the hosts for 171 in the first ODI.
While the Indian bowlers have done well on the tour, the batsmen have been battling with inconsistencies.
Verma once again got off to a great start as the top-order broke down chasing a modest target in the opening ODI.
The middle order consisted of Harmanpreet, Harleen Deol, Deepti who showed their all-rounder ability and Pooja Vastrakar who dismissed India in the opener.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are hopeful that skipper Chamari Athapaththu can inspire the team with the bat after a relatively poor show so far.
Openers Hasini Perera, Harshita Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva have batted well but they need to build partnerships.
On the bowling front, left-arm spinner Inoka Ranvira has shined but will need more support from her colleagues.
Sri Lanka lost the ODI series against Pakistan last month and will be looking to avoid a second consecutive series loss in the format.
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (WK), S Meghna, Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Simran Bahadur, Richa Ghosh (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh , Tania Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (Captain), Nilakshi D’Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunaratne, Ama Kanchana, Hansima Karunaratne, Achini Kulsuriya, Sugandhaika Kumari, Harshita Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Mal Oshadi Ranasinghe Inoka Ranvira Innoka, Anoushka Ranasinghe, Mal Osha Tharika Sewandi.
The match will start at 10 am IST.
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