India have so far won all their six matches in the tournament to be the only unbeaten side among the 10 participating nations. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s semifinal hopes hang by a thread, having lost four of their six matches so far.
India are currently number two on the points table and Sri Lanka are number seven.
India have historically dominated the island nation in 50-over internationals. However, it took 20 years for India, since the 1979 World Cup, to beat the Lankans in the tournament.
Here’s a look at many more such interesting stats and trivia involving the two teams as they head into another World Cup clash:
1. In all, the two countries have played 167 matches against each other – the most between two teams in the history of ODIs.
2. India have won 98 matches and Sri Lanka 57. One ODI resulted in a tie while the remaining eleven could not produce results. India enjoys winning percentage of 63.14 as against 36.85 by Sri Lanka.
3. The margin of India’s triumph by 317 runs vs Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram on January 15, 2023, remains the biggest in terms of runs by any team against an opponent in the history of ODIs.
4. Both the teams have won four games each out of nine World Cup matches played between 1979 and 2019. India registered their first World Cup win over Sri Lanka after twenty years – by 157 runs at Taunton on May 26, 1999.
5. India enjoy an excellent record against Sri Lanka during the last nine years, winning 20 and losing just three.
6. Sri Lanka’s 73 off 22 overs at Thiruvananthapuram on January 15, 2023, remains their lowest total against India in ODIs on Indian soil. Their overall lowest (50) against India was recorded by them in the Asia Cup final in Colombo (RPS) on September 27, 2023.
7. Of the 66 ODIs played between the two teams in Sri Lanka, India have won 32 and lost 28 (no-result: 6). India have won 39 and lost 12 out of 54 played against Sri Lanka in India (no-result: 3), winning percentage 76.48.
8. Since 1998, India have not lost a single bilateral series against Sri Lanka. Between 2006-07 and 2023, India have won all ten bilateral ODI series vs Sri Lanka.
9. Of the six white-washes by 5-0 registered by India in bilateral ODI series, two are against Sri Lanka — in India in 2014-15 and in Sri Lanka in 2017, both under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and in successive series.
10. Virat Kohli remains the only batter to hit ten centuries vs Sri Lanka — a record by any batter against any team in ODIs.
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11. Rohit Sharma remains the only batter to hit two double hundreds vs Sri Lanka in ODIs — 264 (a world record) in Kolkata on November 13, 2014, and 208 not out at Mohali on Dec 13, 2017.
12. Sachin Tendulkar’s run-aggregate of 3113 (ave 43.84) in 84 matches, including eight hundreds and 17 fifties, is the highest by any batsman against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
13. Zaheer Khan’s tally of wickets is an Indian ODI record vs Sri Lanka — 66 (average 32.19) in 48 matches, including one five-wicket haul and one instance of four wickets.
14. Jaspreet Bumrah’s tally of 15 wickets at 11.26 runs apiece in five matches is the most by any bowler in ODIs involving India and Sri Lanka
15. MS Dhoni’s tally of dismissals is a record by any wicketkeeper against Sri Lanka in ODIs – 96 (71 catches + 25 stumpings) in 67 matches.
16. Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly had shared a second-wicket stand of 318 in a WC fixture at Taunton on May 26, 1999 – the highest by any pair for any wicket vs SL in ODIs.
17. India’s top three totals against Sri Lanka are – 414 for 7 in Rajkot on Dec 15, 2009; 404 for 5 in Kolkata on Nov 13, 2014; and 392 for 4 in Mohali on Dec 13, 2017.
18. India got out for 54 in the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy vs SL at Sharjah on October 29, 2000 – their lowest total against any opponent in ODIs. Their lowest ever in ODIs on home soil is also against Sri Lanka — 78 at Kanpur on December 24, 1986.
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19. Sanath Jayasuriya had scored 189 off 161 balls in the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy against India in Sharjah on Oct 29, 2000 – the highest score for SL in ODIs. It is also the highest by any batter in any ODI final.
20. Sri Lanka had defeated India by 254 runs in the final of the Coca Cola CT at Sharjah on 29-10-2000 – their largest victory-margin in terms of runs in any ODI final by any team.
21. The two leading wicket-takers in ODIs involving India and SL are Muttiah Muralitharan (74 at 31.78 in 63 matches) and Chaminda Vaas (70 at 31.61 in 61 matches).
22. Muralitharan’s career-best figures of 7 for 30 in Sharjah on October 27, 2000, are the best by a Sri Lankan bowler against India in ODIs.
23. Mohammed Siraj’s career-best figures of 6 for 21 in Colombo (RPS) on September 17, 2023, in the Asia Cup Final are the best by an Indian bowler against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
24. MS Dhoni has recorded most wins as captain against Sri Lanka – 25 out of 41 (lost 13, tied 1 and no-result 2) – winning % 60.97.
(Stats courtesy: Rajesh Kumar)
