The Indian cricket team has embarked on a new journey under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, starting with their tour of Sri Lanka. Following a commanding whitewash in the T20I series, the Men in Blue have kicked off their ODI series with the return of key players like Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul. However, the first ODI against Sri Lanka featured a humorous incident that quickly went viral online. KL Rahul, seemingly confused about the DRS rule differences between international cricket and the IPL, was heard asking, "IPL Wala rule hai kya," as he sought clarification from his captain.

Drama and confusion in the first ODI, watch videos

Sri Lankan openers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka faced a formidable new ball attack from Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Siraj drew first blood, and Shivam Dube, introduced as the second-change bowler, removed Kusal Mendis in the fourteenth over. A controversial moment soon followed when an appeal for a catch was denied by the umpire, leaving both Dube and wicketkeeper Rahul puzzled.

KL Rahul - IPL wala rule hai kya 😭😭#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/4uvpb5oP5s

— 🇮🇳🐐 (@ProteinKohlii) August 2, 2024

Vintage stump mic banter from @ImRo45 😆

Watch the action from #SLvIND LIVE now on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4 & Sony Sports Ten 5 🤩 📺#SonySportsNetwork #SLvIND #TeamIndia #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/HYEM5LxVus

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 2, 2024

Dube delivered a length ball down the leg stump, which Nissanka attempted to flick. Both Dube and Rahul appealed for a caught-out decision, but the on-field umpire turned it down. Dube signaled for a review, prompting Rahul to question whether the review rule for wides, commonly used in the IPL, was applicable in international cricket.

"Good pitch. We have played a lot of cricket here and know the conditions. There has been a lot of changes; I am back, so is Virat, KL and Shreyas Iyer. Kuldeep also comes back in. Dube is also playing. We have a pretty decent balance. We had a great World Cup, we didn't cross the finishing line but there were a lot of positives. We have created an atmosphere where guys can come in and play with freedom. Not really (on whether he will bowl), I will focus on my batting. We have enough bowlers in the squad that can roll their arm over," Rohit Sharma said.

Injuries and team updates

Sri Lanka's captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India's tour commenced on July 27 with the T20I series, where India secured a 43-run victory in the first match, a seven-wicket win in a rain-affected second match, and a thrilling super-over win in the third match.

Rohit Sharma returned to lead India after a triumphant seven-run victory against South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final in Barbados on June 29. However, Sri Lanka faced setbacks with star pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka ruled out of the ODI series due to injuries. Pathirana sustained a shoulder injury during the third T20I against India, while Madushanka suffered a hamstring injury in training.

At the toss, Rohit Sharma confirmed the inclusion of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven. Despite injury concerns, Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka expressed optimism and looked forward to the game.

"We are going to bat first. It looks like a dry pitch and that's the reason. We are going with 6-5 combination. Shiraz is making his debut today. We have to improve our mental skills, we did some bad things in the last game but that is the past and we are looking forward to this game. It (injuries) is a concern as a captain but I am looking forward to going with my second line of bowling," Charith Asalanka said.

See Also: https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/excitement-builds-as-rishabh-pant-navdeep-saini-prepare-for-delhi-premier-league-debut/

The ODI series promises exciting cricket as both teams aim to build momentum and fine-tune their squads for upcoming international challenges.