India stamped
their authority over Sri Lanka with a scintillating batting display in the
first match and showed their mental resilience with a gritty win in the second
encounter to seal the three-match ODI series 2-0. Now, the Men in Blue will look
to secure a series whitewash and get an 11th consecutive win against
the island nation.

With the
series wrapped up, India will also be keen on experimenting in a few positions and
test their bench strength as selectors will look to finalise the squad for the
upcoming T20 World Cup. Additionally. While players have mostly lived up to, or
in some cases even surpassed, expectations, there is still room to give a few
talented youngsters a chance to shine.

Here is our
predicted XI for India’s third ODI against Sri Lanka.

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Shikhar
Dhawan

The skipper top-scored in India’s win in the opening clash, anchoring the innings at one end while Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan lit up Colombo at the other. The Delhi batsman was dismissed by a peach from Hasaranga in the second match and will look to score big in the final encounter today. 

Devdutt
Padikkal

While Prithvi Shaw has been the most eye-catching batsman so far, the third ODI is the perfect opportunity for someone like Devdutt Padikkal to make his ODI debut for India. The talented 21-year-old has impressed with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and will look to make a mark should he get a chance. 

Ishan
Kishan

The youngster has made a great start to his international career, scoring a fifty on his ODI debut in the first match. He dragged on a Kasun Rajitha delivery onto his stumps in the second match and will look to make amends in the final match.

Sanju
Samson

Maish Pandey has been the only Indian batsman under a bit of pressure after failing to perform in the first two matches and will be a prime candidate to give way for someone like Samson, who was ruled out of the first ODI with a ligament injury, to play. 

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Suryakumar Yadav

The backbone in the middle-order, Suryakumar Yadav was at his fluent best during an unbeaten 31-run cameo in the first ODI, before scoring a fifty in the second and will look to go big in the final ODI. 

Hardik Pandya

There have been concerns surrounding Pandya’s fitness, after he was seen struggling while bowling in the previous match. But there has been no official word on any injury and thus he will be expected to start.  

Krunal
Pandya

Krunal has been the better of the Pandya brothers this series, starring with both bat and ball. Apart from being miserly with runs, Krunal has taken one wicket so far and scored an invaluable 35 runs in the second match.

Deepak
Chahar

India’s man of the moment, Deepak Chahar became the talk of the town after his heroics, an 82-ball 69 in the run chase, led India to an unlikely three-wicket win in the second match. He has also taken four wickets so far.   

Bhuvneshwar
Kumar

The veteran seamer is regaining match fitness and confidence after injury kept him out of the Indian side for a while. He has been dependable and consistant as ever in the previous two matches. 

Kuldeep Yadav

Yadav has been impressive in the series so far, taking two  wickets in the first match apart from restricting the flow of runs. He will look to keep up the good work and make a strong claim to be included in the T20 World Cup squad.  

Rahul Chahar

The 21-year-old has been a key cog in Mumbai Indians’ side in the last two seasons, and will be keen on impressing selectors if he is given a chance in the final match.