India's predicted playing XI for the 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka | August 2, 2024

Team India will face off against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, with the opening game scheduled to be held in Colombo on Friday, August 2. The Men in Blue recently defeated the Lankan Lions 3-0 in the T20I leg of the tour.

India will play an ODI for the first time in 2024, with many of their players returning to the format for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final. There are a few fresh faces in the mix as well, and it promises to be the start of a new era.

ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka.

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Openers: Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma (c)

India v Australia: Final - ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 - Source: Getty

India's opening combination is as fixed as it has ever been in ODIs. Shubman Gill, who has been appointed the vice-captain for the series, will be keen on piling on the runs in what is clearly his best format at this point. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, will want to put the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup behind him as he attempts to lead the team to further glory in the coming years.

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Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Riyan Parag, Axar Patel

India v Australia: Final - ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 - Source: Getty

Virat Kohli will be back in action after missing out on the South Africa ODIs at the end of last year. The superstar batter had a miserable 2024 T20 World Cup and will want to return to his prolific best.

Shreyas Iyer, who was in stellar form during the ODI World Cup, has since seen himself lose out on a central contract. While he is going through a tough phase in his international career, there's no doubt over his place in the 50-over side.

India have spoken about needing to choose between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but going by the two players' performances in the last two years, there's hardly a doubt. Pant has had his fair share of decent ODI displays lately, but Rahul has been on a different level at No. 5 and behind the stumps.

While there is the chance of India playing Rahul and Pant in tandem, they might instead want to hand Riyan Parag an ODI debut. The youngster showcased his bowling skill in the recent T20I series and might thus be preferred ahead of Shivam Dube.

Axar Patel will be the frontline spin-bowling all-rounder.

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Lower Order: Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka v India - Source: Getty

Without Hardik Pandya in the mix and with Dube unlikely to make the XI ahead of Parag, India will need to play three fast bowlers alongside Kuldeep Yadav, who will be the lead spinner.

Harshit Rana could be handed a maiden international cap, with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj being the frontline options. Khaleel Ahmed has looked unimpressive lately and might be consigned to the bench for now.