After the three-match Test series, the two teams will be contesting for a 3-match ODI series, starting from the 10th of December. Let’s take a closer look at the ODI numbers between these two sides.
Since 1979
L-R : Maj-Gen BR Heyn (Manager). Roy Dias, Ranjan Madugalle, Ranjan Gunatilleke, DLS de Silva, Roger Wijesuriya, Sunil Jayasinghe, Sudath Pasqual, Rohan Jayasekera, Abu Fuard
Seated L-R : Ajith de Silva, Sridaran Jeganathan, Bandula Warnapua, Anura Tennakoon, Sunil Wettimuny, D S De Silva, Tony Opatha, Duleep Mendis
The two sides met for the first time during the 1979 World Cup in Manchester. Sri Lanka, a nation that was yet to be granted Test status, was led by top order batsman Anura Tennekoon. Suffering a loss against New Zealand and being unable to play against Windies due to bad weather, the minnows entered Old Trafford on 18th June with hopes of salvaging some pride in their last game. Mahesh Gunatilleke was joined by schoolboy cricketer Ranjan Madugalle for their ODI debut while Madugalle was united with his 17 year old schoolmate Sudath Pasqual, who had already become the youngest ever Sri Lankan to play in an ODI making his debut against New Zealand in the previous game. Left-arm off spinner Roger Wijesuriya made up the 3rd school boy in that side.
Read : Can Thisara Perera lead Sri Lanka back to ODI glory?
After winning the toss, India chose to field. The promising start by stand-in skipper Bandula Warnapura and Sunil Wettamuny was later furnished by a 96-run stand between Wettamuny and Roy Dias in 25 overs which was indeed a delight.
Wettamuny’s stylish drives were backed by Dias’s appealing strokes. After Wettamuny’s departure for 67, Dias continued his innings, reaching 50.
Later Duleep Mendis’s husky play was joined by Pasqual, the youngest player in the tournament to take the Sri Lankan score to 238/5 at the end. Mendis’s fine knock of 64 runs came in 57 balls with three magnificent sixes while the youngster remained unbeaten on 23. Due to the late start on Saturday, India awaited until Monday for the task of chasing 239. India was 119/2, a seemingly firm position needing just 120 runs off 25 overs.
Read : Asela and KJP will be crucial believes Thisara
Viswanath’s run out for 22 turned the tables as D.S. De Silva began to operate his googlies, spinning out the middle order. Tony Opatha’s swing attack dismantled the tail as the Indians were bowled out for 191 runs, giving a historic 47-run win to the Sri Lankans. D.S. De Silva and Tony Opatha took three scalps each while Mendis was named man of the match.
It was the first time in history that a non-test playing nation had beaten a test nation in an ODI game, a richly deserved victory for the determined lads from the pearl.
India’s first win against Sri Lanka came in 1982 at Amritsar. Led by Kapil Dev, the home side won by 78 runs.
India vs Sri Lanka head to head ODI record
- Played – 155
- Sri Lanka – 55
- India – 88
- Tied – 1
- No Result – 11
Recap of the last few years
Sri Lanka hosted India in 2008 where the ODI series was won 3-2 by the visitors. In 2009, Indians visited the emerald isle again, where the ODI series was won by India 4-1.
In late 2009, Sri Lanka travelled to India where the 5 match ODI series was won 3-1 by the hosts with one ending without a result.
India toured Sri Lanka in 2012, where the visitors won the ODI series 4-1 while two years later, India whitewashed Sri Lanka 5-0 on their home soil. This year, the home series for Sri Lanka against India, ended in a humiliating 5-0 whitewash. The last time Sri Lanka won a bilateral series against India was in 1997.
Read : The last four months felt like two years – Asela Gunaratne
In India
Since India’s first win against Sri Lanka at Amritsar in 1982, the two teams have played 48 ODIs on Indian soil. The first win for Sri Lanka in India came in 1986 at Kanpur.
India vs Sri Lanka head to head ODI record in India
- Played – 48
- India – 34
- Sri Lanka – 11
- No result – 3
Dharmasala
The first ODI will take place at one of the most picturesque venues in the world, the HPCA Stadium in Dharmasala. Sri Lanka is yet to play an ODI at the venue. India have played 3 ODIs, winning two and losing one.
The floodlit Mohali
The PCA Stadium, popularly known as Mohali, carries the distinction of most floodlights erected at a cricketing venue. The unusual amount of 16 floodlights were installed to eliminate the shadow created due to their shortness in height and the pillars were made short to avoid clashes with air planes, as the Chandigarh airport is located close by.
India have played 14 ODIs at Mohali, winning 9 and losing 5. Sri Lanka have played a solitary ODI at the venue, in 2005, losing it by 8 wickets.
Visakhapatnam
The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has hosted 6 ODIs involving India. They have won 5 and lost 1. Sri Lanka have played a solitary ODI in 2007, losing it by 7 wickets.
Read : Ailment, injuries haunt Sri Lankans
Team Records
- Highest team total – 414/7 (India at Rajkot 2009)
- Highest team total for Sri Lanka – 411/8 (at Rajkot 2009)
- Lowest team total – 54 all out (India at Sharjah, 2000)
- Lowest team total for Sri Lanka – 96 all out (at Port of Spain, 2013)
Batting Records
- Most runs – Sachin Tendulkar (3113 runs in 80 innings) (Avg. 43.84)
- Most runs for Sri Lanka – Sanath Jayasuriya (2899 runs in 85 innings) (Avg. 36.23)
- Most runs in India – Sachin Tendulkar (1078 runs in 27 innings) (Avg. 49.00)
- Most runs in India (for SL) – TM Dilshan (909 runs in 21 innings) (Avg. 45.45)
- Highest individual score – Rohit Sharma (264 at Kolkata, 2014)
- Highest individual score (for SL) – Sanath Jayasuriya (189 at Sharjah, 2000)
- Highest individual score in India (For SL) – TM Dilshan (160 at Rajkot, 2009)
Bowling Records
- Most wickets – Muttiah Muralitharan (74 wickets in 59 innings) (Avg. 31.78)
- Most wickets for India – Zaheer Khan (66 wickets in 48 innings) (Avg. 32.19)
- Most wickets in India – Kapil Dev (24 wickets in 17 innings) (Avg. 21.66)
- Most wickets in India (for SL) – Muttiah Muralitharan (15 wickets in 13 innings) (Avg. 35.13)
- Best bowling – Muttiah Muralitharan (7 for 30 at Sharjah, 2000)
- Best bowling for India – Ashish Nehra (6 for 59 at RPS, 2005)
