Sri Lanka will be giving Nuwanidu Fernando his ODI debut after Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first in the second ODI at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, January 12. They will be playing against an almost unchanged India side that thrashed them by 67 runs in the first match of the series.
With a chance to seal the series, skipper Rohit Sharma has chosen to go ahead with Kuldeep Yadav in the Playing XI, after Yuzvendra Chahal suffered an injury in the last game. Moreover, the conditions also suit the spinner, who will hope to replicate his good form for India in ODIs.
For Sri Lanka, Fernando has been drafted in to take the place of Pathum Nissanka, who hurt himself in the last game. Lahiru Kumara also will return to the Playing XI, replacing another injured player in Dilshan Madushanka.
Speaking to the media after the toss, Rohit is looking forward to a bright future, “I was in two minds. Wanted to bat first because of how we played last time, but looking at this ground, I wanted to field. Overall, improvements are as a team, nothing in particular. What we've done in the past is in the past, we need to look ahead and keep doing better. I love playing here, the crowd is also energetic and that motivates me always. But it is in the past, I need to start fresh.”
For Dasun Shanaka, injury concerns might hurt their challenge, “Very good wicket to bat first, also looking at the venue stats. Important to score, be relaxed and play our natural game. Two changes - Madushanka and Pathum Nissanka out (shoulder injury), Nuwanidu Fernando gets a debut and Lahiru Kumara is back.”
India Playing XI
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka Playing XI
Kusal Mendis(w), Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha
