The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host a blockbuster World Cup clash on Thursday between hosts India and Sri Lanka. This venue carries fond memories for India, who lifted the 2011 World Cup trophy here by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
India have been in sublime form so far, winning all six of their matches to sit atop the points table. Their unbeaten streak stretches to 12 ODIs dating back to early 2022. Everything has clicked for the Men in Blue – their batting led by Virat Kohli, bowling spearheaded by Mohammed Shami and fielding.
The script has flipped between triumph and defeat for an inconsistent Sri Lankan squad. Despite noteworthy victories against England and Netherlands, damaging losses to Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan have the Lankans down in seventh position. With their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread, Sri Lanka will be desperate to upend tournament favorites India today. But beating an in-form Indian team in their own backyard will be a mighty challenge.
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India Overview
India have assembled a formidable 15-man squad as they aim to win the World Cup on home soil. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have provided solid starts while Virat Kohli is in the form of his life, averaging over 100 in ODIs this year. Suryakumar Yadav adds explosive hitting power in the middle-order alongside all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
India’s bowling unit has been firing on all cylinders. Mohammed Shami leads the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya. Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin have kept things tight in the middle overs.
With an embarrassment of riches in their squad, India will be targeting a seventh straight win as they aim to seal a spot in the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka Overview
Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad is a good blend of youth and experience. Veterans like skipper Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Perera will need to step up alongside young stars Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and Ashen Bandara.
The Lankans will rely heavily on the batting firepower of opener Nissanka, who’s scored two half-centuries in the tournament. Maheesh Theekshana’s mystery spin will also be key. He’ll lead the bowling attack with pacers Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka’s objective will be to upset India’s momentum early on and not let them get into a rhythm. Taking early wickets will be crucial to restricting India’s star-studded batting lineup. The Lankans are more than capable of causing an upset, having beaten hosts England in the last ODI World Cup. But they will need their players to fire in unison.
India vs. Sri Lanka Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for India:
- Rohit Sharma
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Lokesh Rahul
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
Expected Starting XI for Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis (c & wk)
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Chamika Karunaratne
- Dunith Wellalage
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Lahiru Kumara
- Dilshan Madushanka
India are expected to field the same balanced XI that has led their success so far. Sri Lanka could consider giving orthodox spinner Dunith Wellalage a game in place of Angelo Mathews. But overall, both teams should retain their winning combinations.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
India vs. Sri Lanka Head-to-Head
India and Sri Lanka are familiar foes, having played 167 completed ODIs against each other. The overall head-to-head record is heavily in India’s favor. India have won 98 matches compared to Sri Lanka’s 57 victories.
In World Cup encounters, India hold a slim edge with four wins against Sri Lanka’s three (with one no result). India famously beat Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium – the very venue for this match.
India have dominated Sri Lanka in recent years, winning 10 of their last 11 ODI meetings. Their latest matchup was in the Asia Cup in September 2022 where India won by 6 wickets.
Given India’s recent dominance and their stellar World Cup form, the scales are tipped firmly in their favor heading into this clash. But expect Sri Lanka to come out fighting with their backs against the wall in terms of semi-final qualification.
Weather & Pitch Report
The match will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Weather forecasts predict hot and dry conditions for matchday with temperatures around 31°C. Humidity levels will be moderate around 65% with no chance of rain.
The pitch at Wankhede is usually an excellent one for batting with true bounce and even pace allowing stroke-making. Teams have regularly scored 300+ totals here. Spinners can extract turn later in the innings.
In the four World Cup games at Wankhede so far, the average first innings score is 274. Teams batting first have won three of the four matches.
Considering the venue’s batting friendly nature, big runs are expected again for this clash. Winning the toss and posting a big total will be key. The pitch may slow down later making run scoring tougher for the chasing side. Dew could play a factor in the second innings.
India vs. Sri Lanka Prediction
Based on recent form and head-to-head record, India are firm favorites to extend their winning streak to seven matches. Their batting led by Virat Kohli looks unstoppable at the moment. Sri Lanka’s bowlers will face a mighty challenge to contain this Indian lineup.
India also have the bowling firepower to restrict Sri Lanka’s batting. Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Shami have been instrumental in bowling teams out cheaply this World Cup.
For Sri Lanka, players like Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka will need to be at their best to challenge India. But realistically, it will take a miracle for Sri Lanka to topple India in their current form.
Expect India’s juggernaut to continue rolling on with a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka. This win should seal India’s spot in the semi-finals with one game to spare. Sri Lanka’s hopes of qualifying will be all but over.
IN vs. SL Betting Tip
With India heavy favorites, betting on them successfully chasing any target under 300 is recommended. Virat Kohli is likely to be the standout batsman again, making him a good pick for top match run-scorer.
Among bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami are wise bets for most wickets. For Sri Lanka, mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana could prove a handy differential pick.
The batting friendly conditions point to a high scoring match. Betting on the first innings total over 300 runs has good odds.
Sri Lanka have the capability to post a decent total batting first. So consider betting on India successfully chasing a 280+ target for enhanced odds.
With Sri Lanka’s qualification hopes on the line, don’t discount them pulling off an unlikely upset. Betting a smaller amount on Sri Lanka at enticing odds could pay off handsomely.
But India’s red hot form makes them the safer bet to continue their World Cup dominance.
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If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
