India vs Srilanka: With the ICC ODI World Cup set to unfold this year, the Indian team sounded the warning bells as they got off the year on a cracking note. After handing Sri Lanka a 2-1 win in the three-match T20I series, India continued their dominance at home as they went on to hand Lanka a crushing 3-0 defeat in the ODI series. The hosts wrapped up their ODI series against Sri Lanka on a smashing note as they handed the visitors a crushing 317 run defeat in the final ODI. There were a lot of positives for team India. Lets look at the top 5 performers from India vs Srilanka ODI Series.
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India’s win at the Greenfield International Stadium saw the Rohit Sharma-led side become the first ever team to win by 300+ runs in ODI. After the hosts wrapped up a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka, let’s take a look at the heroes who shone brighter than everyone else.
The Indian team put up a clinical show with a lot of positives to walk away with. But the two who shone the brightest were Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj. While Kohli ended the ODI series with the most runs, Siraj walked away as the highest wicket-taker.
India vs Srilanka: Top 5 Performers for India
Virat Kohli
Not too long ago, the criticism around Virat Kohli was at its peak with many wanted the former skipper to make way for the upcoming youngsters. But there’s a reason why the former captain is called the GOAT, and he is hell bent on proving it time and again.
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With the ODI World Cup knocking on the doors, Kohli’s form is one of the biggest positives for the Indian team. The dashing batter hammered two centuries in the three-match series. Kohli ended the series as the highest run scorer, having scored 283 runs from three matches at a strike rate of 137.38.
In the first match, player-of-the-match Kohli struck an 87-ball 113 to guide India to a 67-run win over Lanka. Though Kohli fell for just 4 off 9 in the second ODI, India registered a comfortable four-wicket win to pocket the series 2-0.
But the king wasn’t done just yet. In the final ODI of the series, the world was treated to the vintage Virat Kohli as he hammered an unbeaten 166 off 110. In the stroke filled innings Kohli, adjudged not only the player of the match, but also the player of the series, struck thirteen boundaries and eight sixes. King Kohli is back and how!
Mohammed Siraj
Siraj ended the series on a positive note as he topped the wicket taking charts at the end of the three-match series. The 28-year-old pocketed nine wickets in three ODIs. In the first match, the seamer accounted for two wickets, giving away 30 runs in his seven overs. In the second ODI, Siraj was once again one of the top performers with the ball as he turned in figures of 3/30 in 5.4 overs. Kuldeep Yadav with his 3/51 in ten overs bagged the player of the match award in the second ODI.
In the final ODI, Siraj agonizingly missed out on his fifer as he turned in the best figures of the day. In his ten overs quota, Siraj pocketed it four wickets for just 32 runs, to lead the attack for the hosts. The visitors folded for just 73 in 22 overs, which saw India walk away with a massive 317 run win.
Shubman Gill
Ahead of the series, there was an Ishan Kishan vs Shubman Gill debate doing the rounds. But on the eve of the Lankan ODI series, skipper Rohit Sharma had said that Gill had been consistent with the bat and the team would give him a fair chance. Opening the innings alongside Rohit, Gill did not disappoint.
The youngster finished the series as the second-highest run scorer, behind Kohli. Gill scored 207 from three matches, including a century. In the first ODI, Gill stitched together a century-opening stand with skipper Rohit to hand India a strong start. The 23-year-old struck a 60-ball 70 as India cruised home to a 67-run win. The second ODI, saw the top three fall quickly, with Gill departing for 21 off 12.
But Gill’s best in the series was yet to come. The opener put up a sizzling display with the bat, to further strengthen his stranglehold on the opener’s slot. In India’s massive win, Gill scored a 97-ball 116, to end the series as the second highest run scorer in India vs Srilanka series. Following the Lankan series, it’ll be hard to overlook Gill for the opener’s slot in the future.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit’s form in recent times had been a concern for the Men in Blue. But the new year saw the dangerous Hitman regain his touch. Though the Indian skipper didn’t walk away with a ton to his name, his put up a consistent show and that will be one of the biggest takeaways for India ahead of the World Cup. Scoring 142 in three matches, Rohit ended the series placed third on the run-getters list.
In the first match, Rohit hammered a 67-ball 83. Though the skipper fell for just 17 off 21 in the second ODI, the final match saw the skipper fall short of his half-century as he struck a 49-ball 42. But with Rohit getting his scoring prowess slowly back, the Indian team can breathe a sigh of relief.
Umran Malik
A relatively new face in the Indian line-up, the youngster is surely making his mark. Umran Malik was a part of the playing XI in the first two ODIs, and the 23-year-old fast bowler surely made an impact. From two matches, Umran pocketed a total of five wickets.
In the first ODI, Malik ended as India’s highest wicket taker, turning in figures of 3/57 in eight overs. Malik followed it up with figures of 2/48 in seven overs. Though many criticized Malik for his economy, the youngster was surely one of the impactful players for the Indian team. All in all, there were quite a few standout performances for India in their 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka, but the top three performers in India vs Srilanka ODI series were undoubtedly Kohli, Siraj and Gill.
