Sri Lanka and England will face each other in the third and final ODI of the series at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Tuesday, January 27. With the series level at 1-1, this match will decide the winner.

Sri Lanka started the series well by winning the first ODI by 19 runs. However, they were unable to take the momentum into the second match. England had a strong comeback in the last match, with Joe Root playing a crucial role in helping his team level the series. Now, the team will have to regroup and perform better in this crucial match.

In the second ODI, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 219 runs after choosing to bat first. Dhananjaya de Silva (40) and Charith Asalanka (45) were the top contributors, but the team lost wickets at regular intervals. While chasing, England stayed calm after an early wicket. Joe Root scored 75, while Ben Duckett added 39, helping England win the match in the 47th over with five wickets remaining.

SL vs ENG: Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)

• Matches Played: 81
• Sri Lanka Won: 38
• England Won: 39
• Tied: 1
• No Result: 3

SL vs ENG: Pitch Report

The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium has helped spinners, especially as the match progresses. It gets very difficult to bat out of the powerplay, and teams need to build partnerships carefully. The average first-innings score is 230, which shows it is not that easy to score freely, making bowlers a big factor in the game.

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SL vs ENG: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

England (ENG):

Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, Harry Brook (c), Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell,  Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid

England captain Harry Brook did not hold back after his team’s win in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Chasing 220, England sealed the match by five wickets with 22 balls remaining. The victory ended England’s long 11-match losing streak away from home. It was a much-needed boost for the visitors.

Brook said the win felt special given the conditions. He admitted that batting was extremely difficult on the sluggish surface. The England skipper stressed that quick adaptation was the key to success. According to him, survival at the crease mattered more than scoring freely.

“It's nice to get a win away from home and on a tough surface. We're happy to get the victory,” Brook said. He then criticized the pitch heavily. “The pitch is probably the worst pitch I've ever played on,” he added, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“Not a Great Wicket for ODI Cricket,” Says Root

Joe Root, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, shared similar thoughts. Root said he always enjoys visiting Sri Lanka and feels welcomed every time. However, he admitted the pitch made batting very challenging. He felt the surface did not suit the ODI format.

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“I always love coming to Sri Lanka. It's a great country,” Root said. Speaking about the wicket, he added, “I don't think that's a great wicket for ODI cricket, if I'm being brutally honest.” Root explained that he tried to play the ball late to manage the conditions. England, he said, learned from their mistakes in the first game.

An important 81-run partnership between Brook and Root played a big role in England’s win. Batting remained tough throughout the match for both teams. Spinners dominated the game, picking up 11 of the 15 wickets that fell. The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on January 27.

Sri Lanka and England will face each other in the second ODI of the three-match series on Saturday, January 24, at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. With Sri Lanka leading the series 1-0, England will be under pressure to win and keep the series alive.

Sri Lanka began this series on a high with a win by 19 runs in the first ODI. Batting first, they put up a competitive total of 271/6, led by a brilliant unbeaten knock from Kusal Mendis, who scored 93. Janith Liyanage also played a useful role in the middle order. With the ball, Sri Lanka held their nerve in the final overs and restricted England despite a good start from their top order.

England also showed promise in the run-chase with half-centuries by Ben Duckett and Joe Root. However, once both batters were dismissed, England lost wickets quickly and failed to recover. The visitors will now look to improve their middle-order performance and level the series.

SL vs ENG: Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)

• Matches Played: 80
• Sri Lanka Won: 38
• England Won: 38
• Tied: 1
• No Result: 3

SL vs ENG: Pitch Report

The Colombo pitch is again expected to favour the spinners. In the first ODI match, the spinners have played a major role, and this might continue in the second game also. Batting becomes tougher as the innings progresses, making partnerships very important. A first-innings score around 230–250 can be competitive at this venue.

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SL vs ENG: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

England (ENG):

Rehan Ahmed, Zak Crawley, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid

Charith Asalanka will take charge of Sri Lanka once again in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England. The series will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The matches are scheduled for January 22, 24, and 27. This marks Asalanka’s return to leadership duties after being relieved as T20 captain earlier.

Asalanka’s recent tour of Pakistan during the T20I tri-series was cut short due to illness. He returned home midway through the series along with fast bowler Asitha Fernando. The left-hander has now recovered and is fully fit. He is expected to be eager to make an impact against England.

Sri Lanka will also benefit from the presence of Dhananjaya de Silva, whose all-round ability adds balance to the side. Wicketkeeper-batter Lahiru Udara, who was part of the ODI squad in Pakistan, misses out this time. The team combination looks settled with a mix of youth and experience.

Key Players and Conditions to Watch in Colombo

Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara are likely to continue as openers for Sri Lanka. Kusal Mendis is expected to bat at number 3, while Sadeera Samarawickrama will play an important role in the middle order. The all-rounders Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga will be important for their team as they will face a strong lineup of England.

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Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando are likely to spearhead the attack. Janith Liyanage offers an extra bowling option if needed. With Colombo conditions likely to help spinners, part-time bowlers like Asalanka and Kusal Mendis may also be used. Spin is expected to play a major role in the series.

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Charith Asalanka (Captain), Maheesh Theekshana, Kamil Mishara, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pathum Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kusal Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan Malinga.

India and New Zealand will meet in the third and final ODI on Sunday, January 18, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. With the series tied 1-1, this match will determine the series winner.

India began the series strongly, winning the first ODI, but they could not maintain that level in the second game. Their batting has been steady, but the bowling unit needs changes to improve. The team may make one or two changes to strengthen the bowling attack. India also has a great record in Indore and has never lost an ODI at this venue, which gives them extra confidence.

New Zealand bounced back strongly after losing the opening match. They dominated the second ODI, led by a brilliant hundred from Daryl Mitchell. Captain Michael Bracewell’s side will be confident and will aim to beat India again to win the series on Indian soil.

IND vs NZ: Pitch Report

The Indore pitch is famous for high-scoring matches. Batters like playing here, and big totals often happen. However, the surface slows down later in the game, making it tough to chase scores. Teams may prefer to bat first and set a target.

IND vs NZ: Head-to-Head Record (ODIs)

• Matches Played: 122
• India Won: 63
• New Zealand Won: 51
• Tied / No Result: 8

See Also: New Zealand tour to India, 3rd ODI: IND vs NZ, Probable Playing 11, Where To Watch, Live Streaming Details

IND vs NZ: Predicted Playing XIs

India (IND):

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand (NZ):

Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Mitchell Hay (wk), Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clark, Jayden Lennox, Kyle Jamieson

Team India’s star batter Virat Kohli made a heartwarming revelation after winning the Player of the Match award in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. Kohli revealed that he usually sends his awards to his mother, as she likes to collect them and feels proud of his achievements.

The former India captain played a superb knock of 93 runs while chasing a stiff target of 301. He batted with great control and calmness, making sure India stayed ahead in the chase. His innings once again showed his experience and match awareness.

The former India captain stitched together important partnerships to take the match away from New Zealand. He added 118 runs with skipper Shubman Gill and later shared a 77-run stand with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, setting up a strong platform for India’s win.

Kohli reflects on mindset, team-first approach and crowd behaviour

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Kohli said he no longer thinks about personal milestones and always focuses on helping the team win. He added that even if India had batted first, his approach would have been aggressive. As quoted by ESPNcricinfo, he said, "I send my awards to my mom, she's proud of them. If I look back at my whole journey, it's nothing short of a dream come true. I always knew my abilities and had to work to get where I have. God's given me way too much, I have a lot of gratitude. Honestly, the way I'm playing, I'm not thinking milestones. If we were batting first, I'd have gone harder. The experience does kick in, but the main thing was to get the team ahead and to a winning position."

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Kohli missed out on his 54th ODI century after mistiming a shot to mid-off, where Michael Bracewell took the catch off Kyle Jamieson’s bowling. Despite that, the 37-year-old reached a major milestone by going past Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer across all formats.

When asked about fans booing other batters, Kohli said he does not like seeing any player treated that way. He mentioned that he has seen similar reactions towards MS Dhoni as well. Kohli said he prefers to stay focused on the game and feels grateful for the love he receives from the crowd. India will now aim to seal the series in the second ODI against New Zealand on January 14 in Rajkot.

India have suffered a setback ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with Rishabh Pant ruled out due to injury. According to reports, Pant picked up a side strain after being hit on the ribs during a net session in Vadodara and will miss the entire series.

The incident happened during India’s practice ahead of the first ODI. Pant was batting comfortably before a delivery struck him above the waist, leaving him in visible pain. He was immediately attended to by the support staff and did not continue the session.

Following scans and medical checks, doctors confirmed a side strain on the right side of his ribcage. As a result, the team management decided to rule him out to avoid further risk, dealing a blow to India’s plans for the series.

Dhruv Jurel called up as injury replacement

Dhruv Jurel has been named as Pant’s injury replacement for the ODI series. The young wicketkeeper-batter has been in fine form for Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy and joined the Indian squad on Saturday. Pant is expected to rest for a few days before reporting to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitation. He had recently shown good form in domestic cricket, scoring two half-centuries while leading Delhi into the knockout stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

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This is not the first injury setback for Pant in recent times. He had earlier fractured his right foot during the fourth Test against England at Manchester and made his return through the home Test series against South Africa last year. Although he has been part of India’s ODI plans for the last two years, his last appearance in the format came during the Sri Lanka tour in August 2024.

With Pant sidelined, India may also consider Ishan Kishan as another wicketkeeping option, given his strong domestic performances. The ODI series against New Zealand will begin on January 11 at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18.

India and New Zealand are ready to begin their 2026 campaign with the first ODI of the series at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. This will be their first ODI meeting since the Champions Trophy 2025 final, where India defeated New Zealand to lift the title.

India enjoyed a strong run in ODI cricket last year, winning most of their matches and ending the year as champions of an ICC tournament. While Rohit Sharma led the team to glory in 2025, Shubman Gill is expected to take charge this year. The young captain will aim to start his leadership journey with a confident performance at home.

New Zealand were equally impressive in 2025, winning 17 of their 20 ODI matches. However, they were unable to get the better of India during the year. Led by Michael Bracewell, the Black Caps will be keen to change that record and make a strong start to the new year against a familiar rival.

IND vs NZ: Head-to-Head Record in ODIs

• Matches Played: 120
  
• India Won: 62
  
• New Zealand Won: 50
  
• Tied / No Result: 8
  

IND vs NZ: Pitch Report

This will be the first men’s ODI at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. In the women's ODIs played here, teams batting first have had success. The pitch is expected to assist the batters early before getting slower in the latter part of the match. Hence, captains might opt to bat first and put runs on the board.

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IND vs NZ: Predicted Playing XIs

India (IND):

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

New Zealand:

Devon Conway (WK), Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (C), Glenn Phillips, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok, Michael Rae, Jayden Lennox

Indian players are getting ready for their first international match in 2026, as India will face New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match home series on Sunday (January 11) in Baroda. Only four players of the complete squad have reportedly not joined the team yet, and here we can know the clear reason for their present absence from the national team.

White-ball series against New Zealand are crucial before T20 World Cup

The Men in Blues are ready to begin their journey in 2026 with the home three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which will start on January 11. After the ODI series, India will host a five-match T20I series against New Zealand before hosting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, along with Sri Lanka, where India will also defend the title. 

While the national selection committee has already announced the 15-member ODI squad for the home series, most of the players have already reached Baroda for the series opener, including the former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

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Four players were busy in Vijay Hazare Trophy; will join on Friday

However, four players of the 15-member squad are yet to join the team. These four names are Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj. All these players are likely to join the squad on Friday (January 9), as they were busy in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. 

On Thursday (January 8), all four players played in the last day of the Elite group stage in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. Rishabh Pant led Delhi in their comfortable nine-wicket win against Haryana, while Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer scored 45 off 34 balls in their one-run defeat against Punjab. Also, Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets (2/45) in their three-wicket defeat against Jammu and Kashmir, and Ravindra Jadeja (52 not out off 39 balls and 3/62) had a strong all-round performance for Saurashtra in their 145-run win against Gujarat.

The first ODI match between the India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team tickets were sold out in only eight minutes, which is a strong indication of the enormous enthusiasm that the bilateral series has created. The first ODI will take place on January 11 and it is the first match of a lengthy white-ball tour that includes three ODIs and five T20Is.

Baroda to have a full house as ticket rush highlights India’s cricketing love

The stunning demand for tickets shows how much international cricket is liked in India, and even more so when a strong team like New Zealand is playing. The fans rushed to the internet as soon as the sale of tickets started, and within minutes all the seats were gone. The demand was so high that it proved once again that India is one of the countries that follow cricket the most passionately.

The first ODI will take place in Baroda, a venue that has gained fame and respect for its thrilling contests and large crowds. The sold-out tickets indicate that the stadium will be crowded, and this will lead to a lively atmosphere for the series opener. Players usually get more motivated when they perform in front of a packed crowd, and both teams will aim to start strongly.

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Series opener sparks off the rivalry of India vs New Zealand that is set by the fans

The forthcoming series has a lot riding on it for both teams. For India, the ODIs are an opportunity to try out players and keep the 50-over momentum going, while the T20Is are aimed at sharpening the strategies for the global events. New Zealand, on the contrary, will treat this tour as a test against one of the strongest oppositions in their backyard.

India and New Zealand cricket ties have been very fruitful for the cricketing world and the spectators alike as they have produced high-quality cricket and memorable battles in every format. The tickets selling like hot cakes for the first ODI indicates that the fans are in for another tightly contested match.

The January 11 fight is not only about competitive cricket but also an electrifying atmosphere that will be created by thousands of fans coming together to see the newest chapter in this thrilling rivalry as the excitement is already at its highest.