In a thrilling encounter at the R Premadasa International Stadium, Colombo, Assam's cricketer Riyan Parag made an impressive ODI debut, taking 3 crucial wickets to help Team India restrict Sri Lanka to 248/7 in the third and final ODI of the series. Parag's victims included key players Dunith Wellalage, Charith Asalanka, and Avishka Fernando, marking a significant contribution to India's bowling attack.
The ODI series, which follows India's dominant whitewash in the T20I series, has been full of drama and intensity. The first ODI ended in a tie, and Sri Lanka clinched victory in the second match, setting the stage for a high-stakes final. As the series stands at 1-0 in favor of Sri Lanka, today's match will determine whether India can level the series or if Sri Lanka will secure the trophy.
India's playing XI saw a couple of changes, with Riyan Parag and Rishabh Pant coming in for KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first, with their skipper Charith Asalanka expressing confidence in his team's ability to post a challenging total on a pitch expected to offer turn and occasional spiteful bounce.
Despite the challenging conditions, Sri Lanka managed to post a competitive score, thanks to contributions from their top order. However, India’s bowlers, led by Riyan Parag, along with one wicket each from Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj, kept the hosts in check.
The pitch, described by Russell Arnold as dry with visible cracks, posed a significant challenge for the batters. Arnold noted that scoring runs on this surface would require patience and discipline, a sentiment echoed by both team captains.
With the series on the line, all eyes are on how India will respond with the bat. Can they chase down the target and draw the series, or will Sri Lanka's bowlers rise to the occasion and secure a series win? Stay tuned for the outcome of this decisive match.
