Vizag ODI: India win toss, elect to field first in series decider

Vizag [India], December 17 (ANI): India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the third and series decider One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, here at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma after winning the toss said, "Good conditions, will be hot initially but as the day goes on, climate gets better. Keeping the dew factor in mind, we want to chase."

India have announced one change in the squad. With Washington Sundar being sick, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has replaced for him.

Meanwhile, Sadeera Samarawickrama has been included in the Sri Lankan playing XI, replacing Lahiru Thirimanne.

India will play with an impeccable top-order and will seek to clinch another series win against the Lankan Lions.

Stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma is boosted with confidence after his unbeaten double ton in the last ODI.

Shikhar Dhawan, who has hit a half-century, and the young Shreyas Iyer, who has announced himself on the big stage with a knock of 88 in the Mohali ODI, would also be expected to supply the runs on the crucial day.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will aim to reach his 10,000 ODI mark with a century on the day.

Looking into the past, Vizag has been a good venue for the Indian side, as they have won five out of the last six ODIs her

India have a brilliant home record as they have not lost a series here since the defeat to South Africa in October 2015, whereas Sri Lanka have never won a bilateral series in India, having lost eight and drawn one.

The wicket in Visakhapatnam could remind the visitors more of Colombo than Mohali. The pitch is expected to be dry and slow with a lot of turn.

India are currently levelled at 1-1 with Sri Lanka after the hosts won the second Mohali ODI where stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma thrashed the visitors with his unbeaten 208.

The hosts conceived a seven-wicket defeat in the first Dharamshala ODI.

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

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Upul Tharanga, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera(c), Sachith Pathirana, Suranga Lakmal, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Pradeep. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI