Lanka win toss, ask India to bat first in ODI series opener

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], Dec 10 (ANI): Sri Lanka have won the toss and have asked India to bat first in the three-match series opener, here at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).

Though the Indian side 'run machine' and skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the series, it will still not be easy for Sri Lanka, as they are set to face the Men in Blue led by the most successful IPL captain Rohit Sharma.

Meanwhile, the no. 3 spot has been given to ODI debutant Shreyas Iyer. The spot was contentious between Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, but Rahane, who has been patchy with form, has not been included in the playing XI.

The no. 4 spot, which has been a game of musical chairs lately, has been given to Manish Pandey.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, who was rested ahead of the South Africa tour, is back in the squad.

Pandya surely has fond memories of playing in Dharamsala, as the all-rounder had made his ODI debut for the national side here in 2016.

Washington Sundar and Punjab's medium-pacer Siddharth Kaul have not been included in the playing XI.

Sri Lanka will be playing the ODI under Thisara Perera, who has taken over from Upul Tharanga.

Lankans have left Kusal Perera on the bench whereas Lahiru Thirimanne has been given the no. 3 spot despite coming off a poor Test series.

India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sri Lanka playing XI: Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Thisara Perera (c), Sachith Pathirana, Suranga Lakmal, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Pradeep. (ANI)