Team India completed a resounding victory over neighbours Sri Lanka, in their seventh match of the ICC World Cup 2023, as they once again went top of the points table. In the India vs Sri Lanka encounter, led by Rohit Sharma, the team posted a near-perfect 302-run win over the Islanders, who have been struggling against India for quite some time now. Chasing a mammoth total of 358, Sri Lanka’s innings folded for just 55 runs in 19.4 overs.
It was a repeat of the Asia Cup 2023 final, where clinical India had restricted Lanka to just 50 runs, back in September. These two matches now mean that Sri Lankans have lost 20 wickets for just 105 runs against India.
India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final (50 All Out)
| Batsman | Bowler | Score |
| Pathum Nissanka | Mohammed Siraj | 2 |
| Kusal Perera | Jasprit Bumrah | 0 |
| Kusal Mendis | Mohammed Siraj | 17 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | Mohammed Siraj | 0 |
| Charith Asalanka | Mohammed Siraj | 0 |
| Dhananjaya De Silva | Mohammed Siraj | 4 |
| Dasun Shanaka | Mohammed Siraj | 0 |
| Dunith Wellalage | Hardik Pandya | 8 |
| Dushan Hemantha | Not Out | 13 |
| Pramod Madhushan | Hardik Pandya | 1 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Hardik Pandya | 0 |
It was a perfect match for the Indian bowlers, especially Mohammed Siraj, who returned with his best ODI figures of 6/21. It was a great display of swing bowling from Indian pacemen, and Hardik Pandya, and Bumrah chipped in with wickets too. Kusal Medis was the highest-scorer on the day for his team with 17. To make matters worse, Lanka could only get five boundaries in their innings.
India vs Sri Lanka ICC World Cup 2023 (55 All Out)
| Batsman | Bowler | Score |
| Pathum Nissanka | Jasprit Bumrah | 0 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Mohammed Siraj | 0 |
| Kusal Mendis | Mohammed Siraj | 1 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | Mohammed Siraj | 0 |
| Charith Asalanka | Mohammed Shami | 1 |
| Angelo Mathews | Mohammed Shami | 12 |
| Dushan Hemantha | Mohammed Shami | 0 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Mohammed Shami | 0 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Not Out | 12 |
| Kasun Rajitha | Mohammed Shami | 14 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Ravindra Jadeja | 5 |
Cut to the World Cup match between the Asian Giants on Thursday, at the Wankhede Stadium. After inviting India to bat first, Lankan bowlers, despite creating pressure, leaked way too many runs. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, all came close to scoring tons but were dismissed Dilshan Madushanka, who bagged 5/80 on the day. But apart from that, none of the bowlers shone for them.
Come the second innings, Jasprit Bumrah started the proceedings by getting Nissanka on the first ball. And thereafter, Siraj and Mohammed Shami picked up pace to end things soon. The latter ended with figures of 5/18 and has 14 wickets in this World Cup in only three games. Kasun Rajitha top scored with 17 runs.
IND vs SL Heavily Lopsided
There was a time in the ’90s and early 2000s when the Lankan players tormented the Indian players. Who can forget Sanath Jaysuriya’s 189 in Sharjah at the Champions Trophy, or Chaminda Vaas’ five-wicket haul to dismiss us for 54. Or the 1996 World Cup semis. There was a time when the Islanders were beating India more than the latter would have enjoyed. But after the retirement of their top players, nothing is the same. They are struggling big time, and the head-to-head in ODIs suggests the same. India has won 99 matches against the Lankans out of 168 played.
Editors pick
