The third ODI will begin at 3 PM IST on Friday, July 23, 2021, in Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
The 2-0 series winning lead has given the team management led by Shikhar Dhawan, the captain and head coach Rahul Dravid the opportunity to experiment with India playing XI for the final ODI and probably give the benched players a chance to show their skills in international cricket.
Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents to you the Predicted Team India playing XI for the third ODI against Sri Lanka
There can possibly be no changes in the batting department given the success of all the batsmen who have played in the two ODIs thus far. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan have been successful with giving India a flying start in the first ODI, while Ishan Kishan had an excellent debut as well.
Manish Pandey played brilliantly in both ODIs. The Indian team management might want to give a chance to Sanju Samson, who has been declared fit in the middle order, possibly in place of Pandey. However, given that Pandey is also vying for a place in Indian XI and has done nothing wrong, it’s better to be left to management.
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Suryakumar Yadav scored a nice half-century setting up the game for India in the second ODI. And Krunal Pandya has done extremely well with both the bat and the ball, hence both he and Suryakumar might keep their places in the XI.
However, given that Hardik Pandya has started bowling again, and was seen struggling a bit in the Colombo heat during the second ODI, India may give him rest and bring in someone else.
That someone else might either be Nitish Rana, who can bowl part-time off-spin and is a gun batsman. Or the team management may go the other way and bring in K Gowtham, who is more of a bowling all-rounder.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to keep their places in the playing XI, but given that Deepak Chahar has done a lot of work in the two matches, India could give Navdeep Saini a chance in the playing XI and rest Chahar.
Also, there is a possibility of Yuzvendra Chahal being given a break, and the other Chahar brother, Rahul gets a chance to make his ODI debut. The third ODI will begin at 3 PM IST on Friday, July 23, 2021, in Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for 3rd ODI:
Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal