India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Highlights: Yet another batting masterclass from maestro Virat Kohli (87-ball 113), fifties from openers Rohit Sharma (83) and Shubman Gill (70) and clinical bowling performance from the hosts powered the Blues to an empathic 67-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Tuesday. Invited to bat first by the Lankan Lions, India put a 374-run target for the visitors. Rohit Sharma's men had made it a one-sided affair by putting up a mammoth total in the first innings, but Sri Lanka made it easier for the Indian bowlers by losing early wickets and starting off slowly.
For Sri Lanka, the only batter who rose to the occasion was Dasun Shanaka (88-ball 108). The Sri Lankan skipper played a superb knock, scored a hard-fought ton but came out to bat a little too late. His remarkable hundred went in vain and only reduced the margin of defeat.
Earlier, making use of two dropped chances, Virat Kohli scored his career's 45th ODI ton that propelled India to an imposing 373 for seven. During the middle overs, wickets kept on falling at regular intervals from one end, but Kohli had luck by his side as he played the sheet anchor role, hitting 12 fours and one six in his masterclass innings.
Overall, Kohli has now 73rd International centuries. To go with his 45 ODI hundreds, he has 27 in Test format and one in T20I.
India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka