Settled SL meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener

After a hard-fought Test series, the action now switches to the white-ball format, with the first of three ODIs starting on Wednesday. For Bangladesh it's the dawn of a new era in many ways. They have a new ODI captain for starters, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking over from Najmul Hossain Shanto, but more pressingly are the recent retirements of stalwarts Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah.

To say it signals a changing of the guard would be an almost textbook definition of the idiom, in fact, as Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah were the last remaining vestiges of Bangladesh's fab five, which also included Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. You would have to go all the way back to September 2005 to find the last ODI that neither of these players took part in - coincidentally, also against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

So what does this new look Bangladesh entail? Well, they'll be hoping recent form isn't an accurate indicator. They've lost their last six completed ODIs, and 8 of their last 11 ODIs since the start of 2024. Though more promisingly, two of those wins were part of a series victory against Sri Lanka.

Since that series defeat though, Sri Lanka have been on a bit of a tear, particularly at home. They've beaten India, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia on home turf in the past year, with their only ODI series loss coming away to New Zealand.

And while Bangladesh are seeking to fill some big holes, Sri Lanka very well might be settling into a favoured setup. Their batting is now replete with ever more dependable performers, while their bench strength is becoming quite formidable.

Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the pace contingent with Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka included ahead of the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana. Meanwhile a spin department headed by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana is comfortably in world-class territory, and even deadlier in home conditions.

But Bangladesh have exciting talents of their own, even if overall depth is still lacking. Rishad Hossain was a key part of Bangladesh's most recent win against Sri Lanka, while in Mehidy they have one of the premier allrounders in world cricket. Shanto, meanwhile, unburdened by captaincy will be eyeing to turn over a new leaf of his own.

So it very well could be a fresh start for this young Bangladesh outfit, and where better to start than by targeting a first-ever series win in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka WWWLL (most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLL

Maheesh Theekshana played just one out of a possible three ODIs against India last year, and then two out of three against West Indies. But since then he's played in every home ODI he's been available for, while even picking up seven wickets across two games in New Zealand. While Theekshana has for the most part been considered a T20 specialist, it seems the think tank is increasingly more attuned to the utility of his skillset in ODIs as well. And even when he's not picking up wickets, he's creating the pressure for the bevy of spinners around him to profit.

Unlike Sri Lanka's, Bangladesh's spinners haven't had all that great a time as of late, but in Rishad Hossain they have the kind of talent every team in world cricket is looking for - namely, a leg spinning all-rounder that can hit the ball far. But sadly for Bangladesh and Rishad, neither facet of his skillset has been coming off as of late. His last 10 games, internationally and in franchise cricket, has seen a high score of 13 and 11 wickets. But when Bangladesh last played Sri Lanka in the format, Rishad struck a devastating 48 off 18, with a wicket to go with it. If Bangladesh are to challenge a strong Sri Lankan outfit, Hossain will have to be on top of his game.

Sri Lanka's XI is largely settled but there are a few areas wherein things might not be as nailed down. An opening partner for Pathum Nissanka is one of them, with Nishan Madushka preferred over Avishka Fernando in Sri Lanka's last ODI. Eshan had a storming IPL and domestic season, which means it'll likely be between Asitha and Madushanka for that final seamer spot.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Nishan Madushka/Avishka Fernando, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Kamindu Mendis 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana 10 Eshan Malinga 11 Asitha Fernando/Dilshan Madushanka

The visitors have to make at least two major changes to their middle-order with Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah gone from ODIs since their last match in this format. Shanto will likely move into the middle-order with Mohammad Naim and Litton Das set to get into the top-order.

Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Mohammad Naim, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Nahid Rana

The weather looks to be mostly clear, so ideally there shouldn't be any rain interruptions. The pitch itself will likely be your standard Khettarama surface, with any score in the region of 300 a challenging target, while spin is expected to play a prominent role.