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India v/s Sri Lanka 5th ODI Match Preview: India look to make clean sweep after Rohit Sharma blitzkrieg in Kolkata

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The current Sri Lanka's tour of India has not been a very memorable one after the home side trounced the Angelo Mathews-led squad 4-0 in the ongoing Micromax Cup.

Virat Kohli's 'Men in Blue' are hungry for more and will look to maintain a clean sheet in the dead rubber to be played at the JSCA ground in Ranchi as they take on Sri lanka in the fifth ODI. After already bagging the series, Kohli's side will show no complacency and will go for a 5-0 whitewash in a build-up to the ICC World Cup 2015 scheduled to start on February 14.

With every plan chalked out by Sri Lanka failing till now, the last ODI too does not look very promising for the islanders. All departments of the Indian team till now have worked efficiently like a closely-knit unit to demolish the lesser prepared rivals. The visitors have run out of options and all their strategies have so far failed against a far more dominating and superior and strategically-sound side.

So far none of the Indian batsmen have disappointed, justifying their selection in the team. All the batsmen have pocketed big runs, displaying their skill with the willow, bludgeoning an already troubled Sri Lankan bowling attack. A 5-0 result in favour of India seems inevitable.

Recuperating from a finger injury, Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant 264, arriving just before next year's World Cup. Rookies Akshar Patel and Dhawal Kulkarni too performed well and now it remains to be seen if Ravichandran Ashwin will be given a chance to roll his arms before India's tour Down Under. Having gained an unsurmountable lead, Kohli might rest medium pacer Umesh Yadav to give a chance to Vinay Kumar who till now has been warming the benches. Batting positions are likely to witness a few changes with Robin Uthappa opening the innings and Rohit Sharma coming in one wicket down.  

Sri Lanka, on the other hand will miss the services of Kumar Sangakara, who was sent home after the first three one-dayers. Angelo Matthews is also aware that had Rohit Sharma was caught on 4 by Thisara Perera, the match could have taken a different course. The problem of dropped catches will haunt the team furthermore if it remains unaddressed.

With a relatively inexperienced bowling set-up, Sri Lanka needs Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Kulasekara to rise up to the occasion and play responsibly. With just Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Matthews offering some positives, the picture for Lanka looks bleak .

Ranchi's local 'hero' MS Dhoni though will remain missing in action owing to an injury.

India (Probable): Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Akshar Patel, Karn Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny and Vinay Kumar

Sri Lanka (Probable): Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Seekuge Prasanna, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Shaminda Eranga.

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