India v Sri Lanka: India aim to resolve middle-order crisis ahead of semis

Leeds:  Team India will meet Asian rivals Sri Lanka at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds on Saturday. India have already qualified for the semi-finals but a huge middle order crisis looking ugly in their beautiful World Cup journey.

India – Sri Lanka face-off

A clinical English team halted India’s winning run. But their major concern is not this single loss but the glaring middle order crisis. The middle-order have not been able to continue the momentum set by openers and that will be a major worry for the Indian team management.

Sri Lanka have had a modest tournament so far and will be looking to salvage their pride in their last 2019 World Cup match. Both the teams have met eight times in previous World Cups where Sri Lanka emerged victorious four times against India. One match ended with no result.

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India in World Cup semi-finals

With a win over Sri Lanka, the Virat-Kohli led Indian team will top the points table, only if Australia fail to defeat South Africa in their last match at Old Trafford in Manchester.

If India lose to Sri Lanka or Australia win their match, the men-in-blue might face England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the same venue where they lost on Sunday.

Hosts England and 2015 World Cup runners-up New Zealand are other teams who have qualified for the semi-finals. Third-Placed England will face whoever finishes second, while New Zealand are scheduled to play the pole position holder.

Weather Report

Leeds is likely to be overcast throughout Saturday with brief spells of sunshine. Rain is unlikely to interrupt India’s final group-stage encounter against Sri Lanka.