IND Vs SL 1st ODI: Analyzing Colombo's Pitch And Weather Conditions

Rohit Sharma's India will face Sri Lanka in the first ODI of a three-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2. This match marks the return of ODI captain Rohit Sharma and batting star Virat Kohli. KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav will also be part of the Indian squad.

Sri Lanka, led by new captain Charith Asalanka, aims to bounce back after being whitewashed in the preceding three-match series. The team faces additional challenges due to injuries to pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka.

The last ODI at this venue was played between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in January. Zimbabwe chose to bat first but were bowled out for 96, with Sri Lankan spinners taking eight wickets. Wanindu Hasaranga claimed seven wickets. Sri Lanka chased down the target in 27 overs, losing two wickets.

In another recent match at the same venue, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 208 after opting to bat first. Sri Lankan spinners took six wickets. Sri Lanka chased the target in 49 overs but lost eight wickets in the process. Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava took five wickets.

During the Asia Cup 2023 final at this stadium, Sri Lanka opted to bat but were all out for 50 due to Mohammed Siraj's six-wicket haul. Indian pacers took all ten wickets, and India chased the target in just 6.1 overs without losing any wicket.

Thunderstorms are expected in Colombo from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM. AccuWeather predicts no rain until 3:00 PM, but there is a high chance of rain from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with precipitation levels over 50 percent. The match starts at 2:30 PM with temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 80-85 percent. Wind speeds will be close to 18 km/h.

How to Watch IND vs SL 1st ODI?

The live streaming of India vs Sri Lanka's first ODI will be available on the SonyLiv app and website. Sony Sports Network will broadcast the match live on TV starting at 2:30 PM IST.

Which TV Channel Will Show IND vs SL 1st ODI?

TV viewers can watch India vs Sri Lanka's first ODI on Sony Sports Network channels - Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) SD and HD, Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil or Telugu), and Sony Sports Ten 5 SD and HD.

The average score in recent ODIs at this venue is around 166 runs. Spinners have taken a total of 45 wickets while pacers have claimed 27 wickets in these matches. Teams winning the toss have chosen to bat first about 82 percent of the time over the last five years in ODIs held here.

This series promises an exciting contest as both teams look to assert their dominance early on. Fans eagerly await seeing how Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli perform after their return.