Sanju Samson ODI career: India include five debutants in an ODI for the first time since 1980 in Colombo

India include five debutants: The Indian cricket team has made as many as six changes to its Playing XI from the last match.

During the third ODI of the ongoing India’s tour of Sri Lanka in Colombo, India captain Shikhar Dhawan has won the toss and chose to bat after his team gaining an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

“We’ll bat first. We want to put up a good total on the board. We have got six changes, and five debutants. Navdeep [Saini] comes in among the debutants. We are motivated, and we want to finish on a high. With the youngsters coming in, we are really excited and looking forward,” Dhawan said at the toss.

Eager to win points in the ICC Men’s World Cup Series, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka laid emphasis on winning in what is otherwise a dead-rubber match at the R Premdasa Stadium.

“I think the wicket is dry and should stay good. We have three changes – Praveen Jayawickrama, Akila Dananjaya and Ramesh Mendis come in. I think we are on the right track at the moment and winning this is important to go forward,” Shanka said at the toss.

Readers must note that the three players which Sri Lanka have benched are Wanidu Hasaranga (injury), Lakshan Sandakan and Kasun Rajitha.

India include five debutants for third ODI in Colombo

It is after 41 years that India have handed five debuts in an ODI match. Having already won the series, the visitors didn’t shy before making six changes and giving chances to reserve players.

Sanju Samson, who has played only seven T20Is despite making his international debut six years ago, has finally been given an opportunity in 50-over cricket. Other than Samson, batsman Nitish Rana, spinners Krishnappa Gowtham and Rahul Chahar and fast bowler Chetan Sakariya will be playing their first ODI today.

For India, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been benched today. The development means that only three Indian players namely batsmen Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad and spinner Varun Chakravarthy will return back home without making their ODI debuts.