SL vs IND, 1st ODI: Hasaranga spoils Rohit, Virat's return to Indian side as dramatic contest ends in tie

The opening contest of the three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka ended in a dramatic tie after Wanindu Hasaranga spoiled the day for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they returned to the Indian side. Playing in the opening ODI on Friday (August 2) at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, India needed one run to win before the Lankan bowlers scalped two wickets in two balls to end the contest in a rare tie.

Needing 231 runs to win the opening ODI against hosts Sri Lanka, the Indian team made a good start to their innings with returning skipper Rohit Sharma slamming a fifty while Shubman Gill scored 16. The pair put together a 75-run stand for the opening wicket before Gill was dismissed. Soon the Indian team lost Rohit on 58 while Washington Sundar departed for 5 off 4. Former skipper Virat Kohli, who has a great record against Sri Lanka also did not make any impact and was dismissed for 24 off 32.

Soon the Indian team was 197/7 needing 35 runs to win and having three wickets in hand. Shivam Dube held one end for India until he was dismissed for 25 while Axar Patel contributed with 33 off 57.

With India having two wickets in hand and more than two overs to spare and needing a run to win, things did not pan out well. Dube who initially thought he had helped India win the match after snatching a leg bye was given lbw upon review. This means India still needed a run to win with one wicket in hand. However, Arshdeep Singh was also given lbw on the next ball and the match ended in a tie.

Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka both ended with three wickets each and helped the Lankan team end the losing streak against India. Both nations will next meet on Sunday in the second ODI at the same venue with no team leading the series.