Colombo: India restricted hosts Sri Lanka to a modest 262 for nine wickets in the first ODI here on Sunday. Deepak Chahar (2/37), Yuzvendra Chahal (2/52) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/48) played a key role in preventing the hosts from capitalising on playing first and posting an imposing total.
The new-look Sri Lanka team, missing a number of regular players due to Covid-19 disciplinary issues and injuries, got off to a good start as Avishka Fernando (32) and Minod Bhanuka Bhanuka (27) posted 49 for the opening wicket.
However, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to 262/9. Chamika Karunaratne was the top scorer with an unbeaten 43. A lot of players got into double figures but could not post a big score.
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Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. Skipper Dasun Shanaka said after the toss that the ideal history of batting first at the venue prompted him to take the call.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 262/9 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 32, Charith Asalanka 38, Dasun Shanaka 39, Chamika Karunaratne 43*; Deepak Chahar 2/37, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/52, Kuldeep Yadav 2/48).
Earlier today, India's middle-order batsman Sanju Samson was on Sunday ruled out of the opening One-day International against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium due to a sprained ligament in his knee.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Sunday that, "Sanju Samson sprained a ligament in his knee and hence was not available for selection for this game. The medical team is tracking his progress at the moment."
The Indian cricket board did not elaborate whether Samson would play in the second ODI on July 20 at the same venue or not.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav made their ODI debuts, with the former becoming only the second Indian and 16th overall to make his ODI debut on his birthday. Gursharan Singh was the first Indian to do so, vs Australia in Hamilton in 1990, according to cricinfo.com.