In the upcoming 33rd league-stage match of the World Cup hosted in India, the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, has displayed remarkable dominance by winning six consecutive matches. In contrast, Sri Lanka has had a turbulent journey, with four losses out of six matches.
India’s bowling unit has seen a resurgence, notably with the performance of Mohammed Shami. However, the consistent underperformance of Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, and Shreyas Iyer has become a concern for the team management.
Shubman Gill, who was expected to shine, has managed only 103 runs with a disappointing average of 26 in four outings. He has struggled against fast bowlers and may face a challenge from Sri Lanka’s formidable new ball attack, featuring Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha.
Despite Gill’s struggles, the Indian team seems likely to persist with him in the playing XI for the match against Sri Lanka. This match could serve as an opportunity for Gill to regain his form before the crucial knockout stage.
In addition to Gill, Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer have also fallen short of expectations in the World Cup. Siraj has taken only six wickets in as many matches, while Iyer’s vulnerability against short-pitched deliveries has been exploited by opponents.
However, considering the Indian team’s historical tendency not to make frequent changes to the lineup, it’s unlikely that they will drop these two players for the Sri Lanka match. Therefore, it’s probable that India will stick with the same team that played in the last game against England.
In a rare scenario where they decide to rest Iyer and Siraj, potential replacements could be Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur, respectively. Given the expected flat pitch in Mumbai, it’s unlikely that Ravichandran Ashwin will replace any of the mentioned players.
India’s Probable Playing XI Vs Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj/Shardul Thakur