3rd ODI: Unbeaten India hope to seal series
August 27, 2017  14:00
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Welcome to the coverage of third One-Day International between Sri Lanka and India in Pallekele, on Sunday.

India, who are yet to lose a match on this tour, will fancy their chances of wrapping up the five-match series when they lock horns with a beleaguered Sri Lanka.

The visitors have a 2-0 lead in the series and can wrap up the contest with another win before leaving for the last leg of the tour in Colombo.

India recovered from a precarious 131 for seven to record only their second win at the Pallekele International Cricket ground.

The Men in Blue haven't played much ODI cricket at this venue, and Thursday's match was only their second at this venue, having played previously in 2012. It does reflect on their hundred per cent record here then, and the short two-day gap between the second and third ODIs will help them take the winning momentum forward.

The big question is if skipper Virat Kohli will continue with his bold approach when it comes to team strategy, if not team selection.

Ahead of the second ODI, he had outlined the need to give ample opportunity to the youngsters in the side, particularly the bowlers. As such, it is only to be expected that Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal will continue to be front-line spinners then.

The Indian skipper might just revert to the original batting order and close out the series before ringing in any changes in the last two ODIs in Colombo.

While India could yet field an unchanged combination, there are bound to be further changes for the Sri Lankan playing XI. Upul Tharanga has been handed a two-match suspension for slow over-rate for the second time since the Champions Trophy in June, and he will sit out the next two ODIs.
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