Published: Dec 20, 2017, 12:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2017, 01:17 PM (IST)
Rohit Sharma vs Akila Dananjaya: The ball pitched in the arc and thud. It went over the long-on boundary. Rohit stroked a delightful six off Akila in the first over of the third ODI, rubbishing Sri Lanka‘s counterattack. But the main weapon in the ammunition was yet to be launched. Dananjaya bowled a wrong ‘un and took Rohit’s defence apart. Sri Lanka had done their homework. Rohit’s vulnerability was exposed in the previous edition of IPL, and he is likely to face the same in the first T20I at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
Upul Tharanga vs Jasprit Bumrah: This is a battle between intelligent cricketers. Tharanga chooses his shots well and Bumrah gives very little room for the batters to go berserk. Even if Tharanga finds a boundary off a good delivery, Bumrah has the tendency to surprise the batsman with his array of variations. If a bowler deceives Tharanga, he somehow manages to break the shackles thereafter.
Thisara Perera vs Hardik Pandya: Perera is haywire with the bat and Pandya is often uncharacteristic with the ball. Both are fine all-rounders nonetheless, having a reputation for changing the course of the match.
MS Dhoni vs Nuwan Pradeep: No clue where Dhoni will bat. If India is in trouble, he will bat until the last wicket. And of that happens, Pradeep has a task cut out. Bowl those wide yorkers, and he will throttle Dhoni. Mind you, Dhoni has been practising scything such deliveries past point. Sri Lanka need someone in the deep (not Nuwan of course).
Yuzvendra Chahal vs Angelo Mathews: Mathews had done everything he could to save his defence, but the ball spun so sharply that ball had hit the stumps by the time he could make adjustments. Chahal, however, is not a great turner of the ball but bowls a snorter once in a while. He can also run through a batting line-up. His best figures read 6 for 25 in the format.
