India beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs in the first ODI to begin the three-match series on a positive note here on Tuesday.
Batting first, the hosts scored 373 for seven in the allotted 50 overs, thanks to a 45th ODI hundred by Virat Kohli. In reply, Sri Lanka managed just 306-8 in 50 overs. Pacer Umran Malik (3-57) was the highest wicket-taker for India, while Mohammed Siraj claimed two wickets. Pacers Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and leggie Yuzvendra Chahal claimed one wicket each. Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 108 went in vain.
Earlier, Kohli, who scored 113 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in India’s last ODI, continued from where he left to play the sheet anchor role with his 87-ball 113.
The class of Kohli was on full display as he smashed 12 fours and one six and held on to one end while wickets fell at regular intervals in the middle overs.
At a venue where he had scored a century (140 v West Indies) in the only ODI held here four years back, the former India skipper had luck by his side.
He was dropped twice—on 52 and 81—en route to his 45th ODI century, four shy of maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 centuries in the 50-over format.
Overall, Kohli has now 73rd International centuries. To go with his 45 ODI hundreds, he has 27 in Test format and one in T20I.
Skipper Rohit Sharma responded to the criticism of benching the in-form duo of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav by giving India a solid start in company of Shubman Gill.
The Indian skipper had preferred Gill over Ishan who had to sit out despite a record-breaking 210 in India’s last one-dayer.
Rohit slammed a 67-ball 83 (9×4, 3×6) in a knock of sheer domination.
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On a flat deck, Rohit was at ease to step out to the Lankan pacers, pulling them with nonchalance en route to a 41-ball fifty. Gill was also at his fluent best and complemented his skipper keeping his flair and elegance intact.
Brief scores
India 373-7 in 50 overs (V Kohli 113, Rohit 83, S Gill 70; K Rajitha 3-88) beat SL 306-8 in 50 overs (P Nissanka 72, D de Silva 47, D Shanaka 108*; U Malik 3-57, M Siraj 2-30) by 67 runs
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