The World Cup, the Wankhede, and the Lankans. There's a compellingly resonating familiarity, isn't it? It was April 2, 2011 then; it will be November 2, 2023 now.
ICC WORLD CUP 2023
Focus on Iyer as India, SL meet at Wankhede in 2011 encore
Iyer has been troubled by short balls even on flat Indian pitches © Getty
Much water has flown into the Arabian Sea since, but little seems to have changed. India are once again the rolling juggernaut and Sri Lanka will have their task cut out, much like it was on that fateful night at this very venue 12 years ago.
The echoes of history may indeed resurface, albeit with a somewhat diminished glory this time around for the home team. While the World Cup itself is not on the line, a spot in the semifinals awaits the home team. They've seemed like a shoo-in for a top-four position ever since their remarkable victory against Australia, emerging from an exceptionally adverse, difficult, and challenging position in the tournament-opener. India's campaign has been brimmeth with authority since.
The Indian team has displayed clockwork precision in nearly all aspects - batting, bowling, and fielding. While they've been in top form, there have been occasional hiccups, such as Shreyas Iyer's recent struggles with the bat and Mohammed Siraj's rather under par performance with the new ball. However, these issues can potentially be addressed in the game on Thursday.
As a local player on his home ground, Iyer has the opportunity to work out his problems and rediscover his form in familiar surroundings. Facing short-pitched deliveries has been a challenge for him, but he has had extended net sessions to address the issue. There have been sporadic suggestions that he should make way for someone like Ishan Kishan, but the team management, led by Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, is unlikely to tamper with the batting order.
Siraj's recent performance with the new ball has not been very impressive but the team management is likely to persist with him too. Besides, the prospect of facing Sri Lanka might help him regain his form. Not too long ago, in the Asia Cup final, he single-handedly decimated the Sri Lankan team, which should serve as a positive memory for the bowler.
Having come from a defeat against Afghanistan and virtually out of reckoning for a last-four berth, save the outside mathematical possibility, everything seems lost for Sri Lanka, and that could be the only positive for them. That may allow them to play freely.
When: November 2, 2023 at 14:00 IST
Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
What to expect: A high-scoring game is expected unless Mohammed Siraj hits his straps against Sri Lanka. The weather is set to be fair.
Team watch:
India
India are unlikely to make any changes to the XI that beat England a few nights ago in Lucknow, unless the think-tank wants to rest Jasprit Bumrah. But that decision will be left to the pacer himself. Apart from that, no other changes look possible. With Hardik Pandya still unavailable -- a BCCI source says he is expected to be fit for the game against South Africa in Kolkata on November 5 if not here in Mumbai on Thursday -- there is little chance for R Ashwin to come in, as a third spinner can be fielded only when all-rounder Pandya is available. For now, that is not happening.
Tactics and strategy
India will want their out-of-form player Shreyas Iyer to get runs so that everyone is in good nick for the tougher tests ahead. His scores so far read: 0, 25, 53, 19, 33 and 4. Fortunately, he will be playing at a venue known for consistent pace and bounce.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka
Tactics and strategy
Sri Lanka's spinners
