India named an unchanged XI for the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday as the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first. 

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka confirmed one change for his beaten side from the series opener, with pacer Kasun Rajitha replacing Isuru Udana in the eleven. Many expected him to change his strategy of batting first following the comprehensive defeat in the series opener, but the 29-year-old stuck with his decision, saying the pitch was much better to bat on today. 

“The wicket looks better than the last game and batting first would be ideal. We started well, we finished well, and those are positives for us. But we need to consolidate better in the middle overs,” Shanaka said. 

Meanwhile, India skipper Shikhar Dhawan lauded his bowlers for restricting the hosts to 262. “It was a great job from the bowlers to restrict them to 260. The spinners were excellent bowling in tandem.”

He also said his batting depends on the situation and he was happy to take a back seat in the first game while Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan took the Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. 

India are looking to seal the three-match series with a win today. Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan starred in the seven-wicket win on Sunday, with Dhawan top-scoring as the visitors easily chased down the 263-run target with seven wickets and 13.2 overs to spare. 

Prithvi Shaw was named player of the match for his 24-ball 43. 

India’s spin pair Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets, with Deepak Chahar and the Pandya brothers also among the wickets as Sri Lanka were constantly pegged back throughout their innings. 

Chamika Karunaratne top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 43, while Shanaka, Charith Asalanka and opener Avishka  Fernando were dismissed in their 30s. 

The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on Friday, July 23.