Sri Lanka (SL) will face Bangladesh (BAN) in the first ODI of their three-match series on July 2, 2025, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
The ODI rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh returns to the spotlight as the two subcontinental sides face off in the 1st ODI of a three-match series at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, July 2, at 2:30 PM IST. With both teams aiming to build momentum ahead of the ICC Cricket World cup 2027, this clash is expected to be closely contested.
SL vs BAN : Previous Performances
The hosts Sri Lanka are coming into the white-ball clash with momentum on their side, having secured a 1-0 victory in the recently concluded Test series earlier in June after the first encounter ended in a draw. Charith Asalanka will lead the Sri Lankan side and will be eager to carry forward the winning momentum by clinching the opening match of the ODI series.
On the other hand, Bangladesh will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has taken over the white-ball captaincy from Najmul Hossain Shanto. The visitors will be equally keen to kickstart their campaign on a positive note under their new skipper and bounce back after the Test series loss.
SL vs BAN : Head to Head
| Matches Played | 57 |
| Won By Sri Lanka | 43 |
| Won By Bangladesh | 12 |
| No Result | 02 |
| First-ever Fixture | April 02, 1986 |
| Most-recent Fixture | March 18, 2024 |
SL vs BAN : Pitch and Weather Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium is known to favor batters, with many high-scoring matches played at the venue. However, fast bowlers can exploit some help early on while the spinners will come into play as the game progresses.
The surface at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The fast bowlers might not get significant seam movement with the new ball. So, the batters could enjoy their time in the middle initially. However, as the ball gets older and softer, stroke-playing could become slightly difficult. The spinners have been really effective at this venue.
So far, 67 ODI matches has been played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium and out of that 26 matches have been won by the chasing sides. The team that won the toss will prefer to bat first here.
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.
According to AccuWeather, the weather will bemostly cloudy; a little rain in the morning. The temperature will be in-between 32°C-27°C and there is 70% chances of rain during the game.
SL vs BAN : Big Picture : A new era for Bangladesh in transition
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 favored 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.
SL vs BAN : Players in the spotlight : Maheesh Theekshana & Rishad Hossain
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.
SL vs BAN : Vital stats that matters
- Since Mahmudullah’s debut in July 2007, Bangladesh will play their first ODI without any of Mahmudullah, Mortaza, Tamim, Shakib or Mushfiqur
- Bangladesh have never won an ODI series in Sri Lanka
- In five innings, Shanto has a century and two fifties against Sri Lanka, averaging 85.50
- Hasaranga is one wicket away from 100 ODI wicket
SL vs BAN : Team News for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
Sri Lanka :
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.
SL Probable Playing XI : Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
Bangladesh :
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.
BAN Probable Playing XI : Mohammad Naim, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Tanvir Islam
SL vs BAN Fantasy Playing XI :Kusal Mendis(wk.), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Litton Das(vc) , Pathum Nissanka(c), Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Maheesh Theekshana, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
SL vs BAN : Probable Best Players of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Pathum Nissanka
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka will be a key batter to watch in the first ODI against Bangladesh. He is coming off a brilliant Test series last month, where he scored two centuries in two matches, and is in fine form. He also holds an impressive ODI average of 41.11, making him a consistent performer at the top of the order. His ability to provide a solid start will be crucial in setting the tone for Sri Lanka.
Probable Best Bowler: Hasan Mahmud
The right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud could be a key bowler for Bangladesh in the opening ODI of the three-match series. So far, Mahmud has taken 31 wickets in 23 matches at an economy rate of 6.05. His ability to generate pace and swing with the new ball in the early overs will be vital for Bangladesh’s chances of securing a win.
SL vs BAN : Match Prediction
Sri Lanka would like to win the opening game of the ODI and build on the momentum they got by virtue of winning the second Test, which preceded the ODI series. As far as Bangladesh is concerned, the team would like to start afresh in the absence of senior players.
Scenario 1
- Sri Lanka win the toss and opt to bat first
- Powerplay: 55-65
- Sri Lanka: 275-285
- Sri Lanka win the match
Scenario 2
- Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bat first
- Powerplay: 60-70
- Bangladesh: 270-280
- Bangladesh win the match
Also Read: SL vs BAN: Prabath Jayasuriya’s 12th Five-Wicket Haul Seals An Emphatic Win For Sri Lanka