The Indian team is leading the three-match ODI series 2-0 against Sri Lanka. With the series in pocket, they are looking to try new players with the T20 World Cup round the corner. As many as five players are making their debut for India in the third and final ODI in Colombo.
The Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and has elected to bowl first. Nitish Rana, Sanju Samson, Rahul Chahar, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Chetan Sakariya will make their ODI debuts for the Indian team.
Hello & Good Afternoon from Colombo ☀️ 👍#TeamIndia have elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the third & final ODI of the series. #SLvIND
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/7LRDbx0DLM
Here is India's Playing XI 👇 pic.twitter.com/pioejNJG5k
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2021
This is only the second instance of India playing five debutants in an ODI after their Inaugural ODI match, which was in 1980 against Australia at the MCG. Dilip Doshi, Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Sandeep Patil, and Tirumalai Srinivasan were the five debutants.
Wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson suffered a ligament injury in his knee and hence missed out on his debut in the first ODI. However, he has recovered and will represent the Indian team for the first time in ODIs. Sanju has played for India in seven T20Is scoring 83 runs at an average of 11.86. Leg spinner Rahul Chahar, who will be making his ODI debut today has represented India in three T20Is and has bagged three wickets so far.
Middle-order batsman Nitish Rana has been awarded a T20I cap for his brilliant performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rana has scored 1638 IPL runs playing in 67 matches at an average of 27.76. All-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham, who has the ability to win matches single-handedly, and young pacer Chetan Sakariya have also been handed their debut India caps.
The Indian team will be determined to whitewash Sri Lanka by winning the third and final ODI, today at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news:
#TeamIndia have won the toss and they will bat first #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/51qWQOtePK
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 23, 2021
Five players are making their ODI debut for India today – Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Rahul Chahar, Chetan Sakariya and K Gowtham 👏#SLvINDpic.twitter.com/q6NYWV4W9N
— ICC (@ICC) July 23, 2021
India have played five or more ODI debutants only twice before:
1974 v ENG – 11 debutants (India's first-ever ODI)
1980 v AUS – 5 debutants
2021 v SL – 5 debutants #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/Aj0JN6iRIR— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 23, 2021
Say Hello 👋🏻 to our 5 ODI debutants #TeamIndia #SLvIND
Congratulations boys 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/iX6EVZKSp5
— _सरकार__विवेक 🥀 (@VIVEKSARKAR____) July 23, 2021
5 debutants for India in third ODI. this is a bold statement by captains virat and shikhar and coaches ravi and Dravid
— Ritesh Misra (@riteshmisra) July 23, 2021
Five debutants for 🇮🇳 in today's game 🤩
Playing XI: Dhawan (C), Shaw, 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 (WK), Pandey, Surya, 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗮, Hardik, 𝗚𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺, Saini, 𝗥 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿, 𝗦𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #SLvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 23, 2021
5️⃣ debutants 🤩
6️⃣ changes 😯
So much to look forward to 💙What are your thoughts on #TeamIndia's XI for the 3rd ODI? 🤔#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/lotwXMqwiU
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) July 23, 2021
Very happy for the Indian debutants.
It does not matter what happens now.
YOU ARE ODI PLAYERS!
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) July 23, 2021
India started with an alternate squad, and now they have made six changes in the final match with five debutants
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) July 23, 2021
Five debutants in the 3rd ODI, hats off to Coach Rahul Sir, can’t wait to watch these debutants performance doing wonders and making Indian management proud! #INDvsSL
— Tanmay Srivastava (@srivastavtanmay) July 23, 2021