Team India on Friday (July 23) handed debut ODI caps to five cricketers for the third and final ODI against Sri Lankan in Colombo.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, middle-order batsman Nitish Rana, left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham earned their maiden ODI caps and all of them were elated after receiving it.

The five debutants meant that the visitors also made six changes to their playing XI from the second ODI. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were rested for the dead rubber.

Notably, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series with a thrilling three-wicket victory in the second game on Tuesday (July 20).

Chasing 276 to win, Indian team was reeling at 193/7 before Deepak Chahar (69 not out off 82 balls) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (19) shared an unbeaten 84-run stand to take the tourists over the line with five balls to spare.

In the ODI series opener, the Shikhar Dhawan-led side had thrashed the hosts by seven wickets.

Coming to the third ODI, India skipper Dhawan has won the toss and opted to bat first. They will look to finish the series on a high ahead of the three T20Is against Sri Lanka.

India’s playing XI for third ODI:

Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan(c), Sanju Samson(w), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya