Listen to this article

The ongoing One Day International (ODI) series between Indian cricket team and the Sri Lanka cricket team has taken an interest turn. After the match between the two teams ended in a tie, Sri Lanka punched above Team India to pickup a crucial win for the Lankan Lions to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The 3rd and the final ODI match of the series will very much decide the fate of the series. Sri Lanka will be looking for a win to seal a 2-0 series win against the mighty Indians while Indian team under Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma will be looking to bounce and win the 3rd ODI to draw the series 1-1.

After failure to win the opening two matches, the fans have urged for changes in the team. Despite the bowlers managing to restrict Sri Lanka for 230 and 240 runs respectively, the Indian batting unit have disappointed. In this article, we take a look at 2 changes likely for the series decider.

Rishabh Pant for KL Rahul

It has not been a sweetest of series for the Indian 32-years-old wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul. KL Rahul has managed to score only 31 runs in 2 innings with an average of 15.50. Rahul scored 31 runs in 43 balls in the first ODI but was dismissed for a 2 ball duck in the 2nd ODI. Team India and Gautam Gambhir might consider putting Rishabh Pant in for Rahul for the 3rd ODI. Rishabh Pant has been mainly sitting on the bench in the ODI series. Rishabh Pant meanwhile is yet to play a single ODI match since his return from a fatal car accident. Pant has played in T20I format in this series, scoring 51 runs in 2 innings. Team India and Gautam Gambhir might want to have a look at Pant in the 50 overs format.

Riyan Parag for Shivam Dube

A huge debate was sparked after the Indian team’s squad for the ODI format was announced with Shivam Dube in particular interest. Dube was surprisingly included into the ODI squad as replacement for who has been rested for the series. However, Dube had not played a single ODI match since his only debut match back in 2019. And as the fans expected, Dube has been average in the series so far having scored only 25 runs despite being promoted in the batting order and taken only 1 wicket. 22-years-old Riyan Parag who is in the squad might be brought in for the decider. Parag is yet to make his debut but he is a formidable middle-order batsman as displayed in domestic cricket. And with the spinners getting assist from Sri Lankan pitches, Riyan Parag is a capable leg-spin bowler who can easily bowl 5-7 overs.

Share this post!