Pitch report: The pitch looks beautifully rolled. It's hard, flat and has an even spread of grass. The team winning the toss will want to bat first. The ball comes on a bit more in the evening, so the batsmen might enjoy batting in the second innings under lights too.
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat
Mahela: We'll bat first. Looks a good wicket and it's a hard wicket. Since the World Cup, the wicket has been true and it has behaved well. It's a good ODI wicket. What we can control is how we play and concentrate on things which we can control. Thirimanne is dropped, Jeevan Mendis comes in. Both of them are in good form, it wasn't a major change for us.
Dhoni: Umesh and Ojha are out. Dinda and Rahul Sharma are in. Dinda gives his all. It doesn't matter where he plays and for what team he plays - he gives his 100% even in the practice sessions. It's good to have someone like him in the side. We have to bat better, we rely on good starts and the middle order can capitalise on that.
Dilshan: We bounced back well in the second match to level the series. Today is an important game as well. We are looking forward to have a good match. It's a different wicket now after the World Cup. The team needs a good start and we provided it in the last match. Thisara is doing well and Angelo has been doing a great job as well. The
youngsters are doing well and that's a good sign for Sri Lanka's future. I have a bruised finger, it affected my fielding in the first two games but hope to be at my best today.
Rohit Sharma keeps his place. Gambhir has spoken about 'the bigger picture' yesterday and said that Rohit needs to be backed as he is a part of the World Cup 2015 plans.
Unfair on Manoj Tiwary? Or is it a good decision to back youngsters when they're out of form?
India (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Ashok Dinda
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Mahela Jayawardene(c), Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Rangana Herath, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga
Match Preview :
Things are at an even keel after the first two ODIs. Neither team will consider themselves the outright favourites. Both teams have problems that need to be addressed and also some positives to help them go forward. That is what makes the scoreline (1-1) seem just about perfect ahead of the third ODI at the Premadasa stadium, Colombo.
Sri Lanka:
The hosts showed the right spirit after suffering a heavy defeat in the first ODI. They needed some sort of inspiration and that was provided by the canny Thisara Perera. It could be seen as a redemption of sorts too for the bowling unit too after the caning they suffered in the first ODI. Mahela Jayawardene will be put at ease if Lasith Malinga too gets back to his best. The slingy pacer was carted around in the first ODI and while he managed to salvage some pride in the next one, he still gives out an impression of lacking in confidence against the Indians.
As in the bowling, the batting too has its share of positives and negatives. While the top three have been amongst the runs in the first two ODIs, the middle order does not inspire much confidence. Mahela himself will be eager to get back amongst the runs and set an example for the youngsters around him.
India:
As is the case with the hosts, India too have had some time to introspect on what went so wrong in the second ODI. Another aspect that is a little parallel to the hosts' story is the case of their batting. The top three have contributed but it is the others that are required to pull up their socks.
Chief among them will be Rohit Sharma, if the think tank does decide to give him another game. With Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary biting at his heels the talented Mumbaikar will be under great pressure to prove himself. Rahane and Tiwary will be prepared and eager to make use of the opportunity if they do get it.
With Raina and Dhoni having done a good job in the first ODI, the batting worries are lesser in comparison to the hosts.
However the bowling will be a cause of some headache for the captain. Zaheer Khan has been scratchy. Pragyan Ojha is a doubtful starter after haing been hit on the neck in a practice session. Umesh Yadav has been way too erratic and expensive.
Ravi Ashwin and Irfan Pathan come out looking better than their team mates but nevertheless it is going to be a huge challenge for the bowling department to turn things around and inspire some confidence.
Ground stats: In the previous seven completed ODIs at the Premadasa stadium, the team batting first has won only once.
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