India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023: Ruthless IND one win away from semis; SL aims to spoil the party

India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, World Cup 2023: India continue their ruthless march on the road to the 2023 World Cup semifinal, and after wins over Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Men in Blue have the opportunity to smash all permutations and combinations as they renew their battle against sub-continent rivals Sri Lanka. With one leg already in the semi-final, India have a 99.5 percent chance of sealing a spot in the final four, but a win today at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium will all but guarantee it. With six wins from six matches, India, with 12 points, are the only unbeaten team in the World Cup and on current form, are favorites to extend their victory march by another game.

India have been unstoppable thus far in the tournament. Everything they touch turns into gold. Almost all their batters have obtained runs and every bowler has been among the wickets. If Hardik Pandya’s absence due to injury was any bit of a concern, Mohammed Shami’s nine wickets from two matches and Suryakumar Yadav’s crucial 49 dispelled any such doubts. If there were concerns pertaining to whether India could set up a total after chasing the first five games, they delivered that answer emphatically with a crushing 100-run win over defending champions England last Sunday. India are a formidable force to reckon with and Sri Lank will need to perform out of their skins to upstage the most in-form and red-hot team of the tournament.

The fierce contest is equally significant for Sri Lanka, who in all probability are out of contentment for a place in the semis but are alive mathematically. Not only do they need to win their remaining three matches, but it will also depend on the outcomes of other teams. Their campaign suffered a blow when Dasun Shanaka was ruled out, but Angelo Mathews’ dream return injected some confidence back when Sri Lanka hammered England. The upswing however did not last, as following a defeat to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka slipped to the bottom half of the points table. But they will take heart from some of the individual performances that have lifted them in bits and pieces. Fast bowlers Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha have combined to pick 20 wickets, while Sadeera Samarawickrama has been the star with the bat with 331 runs from six matches.

As for India, they will once again be without Hardik, whose continuous absence now seems to be becoming a tad concerning. Not only will Hardik miss today’s match against Sri Lanka, he has also been ruled out of the tie against South Africa on November 5 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The Wankhede has historically produced wickets that have suited batters and quicks more, which means that India are likely to go into the clash unchanged with both Shami and Surya retaining their places. Shreyas Iyer, who practiced long and hard against the short-ball during India’s net sessions, will be persisted with at No. 4.

The last time India and Sri Lanka faced each other in an ICC tournament in Mumbai was during the famous 2011 World Cup final. The two teams very recently met each other in another final – of the Asia Cup, where India steamrolled Sri Lanka by bowling them out for 50 and cruising to a 10-wicket win and the latest chapter only promises to add to the long list of legends matches between these sub-continent rivals. India vs Sri Lanka may not be as emotionally driven as India vs Pakistan or India vs Australia, but with so much history at stake, this one could be a cracker. Before the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka had India on the mat, and their surprise attacks could surprise the team of the tournament… or not.

Here are some pointers surrounding today’s India vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 match:

– India are one win away from securing a place in the semi-final, while a defeat for Sri Lanka could mean curtains.

– Virat Kohli needs one more century to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds.

– The last India vs Sri Lanka ICC match in India was the 2011 World Cup final

– Hardik Pandya has still not recovered and will not be available for today’s match

– The teams batting first at the Wankhede this World Cup have put up scores of 399 and 382.