Shikhar Dhawan and Ishan Kishan created records at the toss in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo as the hosts chose to bat at the R Premadasa stadium.
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Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in the first ODI at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo. Even before a ball was bowled, Shikhar Dhawan created history when he walked out for the toss with his opposite counterpart Dasun Shanaka. Dhawan, at the age of 35 years and 225 days, became the second-oldest captain in Indian cricket history. He broke the earlier record set by Mohinder Amarnath who captained India at the age of 34.
The overall record is held by Hemu Adhikari, who captained India in 1959 at the age of 39. The oldest captaincy debutant for any side is 44 years and 359 days when Norman Gifford captained England against Australia in Sharjah in 1985. When it comes to Asia, Rahul Sharma of Hong Kong was 43 years 306 days when he captained the side against Sri Lanka in the 2004 Asia Cup tournament.
Ishan Kishan was selected in the India team and he made his debut on his birthday. Along with Ishan, his Mumbai Indians team-mate Suryakumar Yadav was also handed an ODI debut. However, Ishan joined a special list. Ishan is the second Indian player to make his ODI debut on his birthday. The first was Gursharan Singh, who’s only ODI came on his 27th birthday. It was against Australia in Hamilton in 1990.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal partnered for the first time since the 2019 ICC World Cup. In that match against England in Edgbaston, both Chahal and Kuldeep were taken to the cleaners by Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. Since then, India has not played both the spinners in matches. Chahal has been preferred in limited-overs cricket while Kuldeep has fallen down the pecking order.
The hosts also handed a debutant to Bhanuka Rajapaksa as they look to make their 2021 better.
Shanaka’s side has had a terrible 2021 after their series against England. They did not win a single match and off the field, they had problems. Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, and Danushka Gunathilaka were all sent back home due to a breach in the coronavirus bio-bubble.
The last time Sri Lanka won a series against India in ODIs was way back in 1997. They whitewashed India 3-0. Since then, India has dominated Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is. The series will be played at the R Premadasa stadium. No fans will be allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The series was postponed to July 18 due to several members of the Sri Lanka squad testing COVID-19 positive.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan(w), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav
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