Virender Sehwag slammed
60-ball fifty to put India into comfortable position in the first ODI of
the five-match series against Sri Lanka in Hambantota.
Sehwag and Virat Kohli continued their work completing 100 runs stand to frustrate Sri Lankan bowlers.
Sehwag started his innings on a shaky note and was dropped on nought before reaching his 33rd ODI fifty that included six boundaries. The duo of Sehwag and Kohli took India past 100 run in the 19th over of the innings.
Sehwag and Kohli shared an unbeaten fifty runs partnership for the second wicket in 61 balls after losing Gautam Gambhir early to steady Indian innings.
India lost an early wicket when Gambhir was clean bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara in the third over at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
The breakthrough for Sri Lanka came after Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat.
India go in with two spinners in R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, while Irfan Pathan has been included as an all-rounder.
Dope-tainted leg-spinner Rahul Sharma has been left out of the playing XI.
For Sri Lanka, Rangana Herath is back replacing Jeevan Mendis.
Barring the Indian Premier League, India have not been in action since their last international outing in South Africa in March.
The hosts, by contrast, have been hungry Tigers on prey. They beat Pakistan at home in both ODIs and Tests, outplaying the high-riding opponents with a clinical performance.
But India are not Pakistan and are known for greater deeds of consistency at the very high echelons of competitiveness.
In the Indian squad their new vice-captain Virat Kohli and a solid Rohit Sharma would be the players to watch out for apart from a couple of comeback men -- opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.
For Mahela Jayawardene and the Sri Lankans, it would just be the continuation of the good yields in the series against Pakistan.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Virat Kohli (vice-Capt.), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (Capt.), Angelo Mathews (vice-Capt.), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.
Sehwag and Virat Kohli continued their work completing 100 runs stand to frustrate Sri Lankan bowlers.
Sehwag started his innings on a shaky note and was dropped on nought before reaching his 33rd ODI fifty that included six boundaries. The duo of Sehwag and Kohli took India past 100 run in the 19th over of the innings.
Sehwag and Kohli shared an unbeaten fifty runs partnership for the second wicket in 61 balls after losing Gautam Gambhir early to steady Indian innings.
India lost an early wicket when Gambhir was clean bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara in the third over at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
The breakthrough for Sri Lanka came after Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat.
India go in with two spinners in R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, while Irfan Pathan has been included as an all-rounder.
Dope-tainted leg-spinner Rahul Sharma has been left out of the playing XI.
For Sri Lanka, Rangana Herath is back replacing Jeevan Mendis.
Barring the Indian Premier League, India have not been in action since their last international outing in South Africa in March.
The hosts, by contrast, have been hungry Tigers on prey. They beat Pakistan at home in both ODIs and Tests, outplaying the high-riding opponents with a clinical performance.
But India are not Pakistan and are known for greater deeds of consistency at the very high echelons of competitiveness.
In the Indian squad their new vice-captain Virat Kohli and a solid Rohit Sharma would be the players to watch out for apart from a couple of comeback men -- opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.
For Mahela Jayawardene and the Sri Lankans, it would just be the continuation of the good yields in the series against Pakistan.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Virat Kohli (vice-Capt.), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (Capt.), Angelo Mathews (vice-Capt.), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.
