Sri Lanka vs India 2017: 1st ODI, 5 talking points

#3 The Axar factor

Axar Patel made an immediate impact with the ball in his return

In a way, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja operate in similar fashion. Both of them are accurate, bowl tidy, quick spells and force mistakes from the batsmen. But what sets Axar Patel apart is his clever variations in pace.

Jadeja does get his pace variations right but Axar's perfect show, as opposed to Jadeja's lacklustre one-dimensional bowling in the Champions Trophy, was a welcome change.

The Kings XI Punjab spinner was right on the money from ball one and the manner in which he cleaned up Kusal Mendis with a skiddy, 104kmph delivery deserved appreciation. Perhaps it was his impeccable lines that forced Hasaranga to slog wildly and Sandakan to defend blindly. The spinner ended with figures of 3/34 in his 10 overs and has surely pushed his case home.