Sri Lanka vs India Cricket World Cup - Back Virat Kohli to carve struggling Sri Lanka apart

Leonard Solms

Editor

Last updated: 03 Jul 2019

Leonard Solms 03 Jul 2019

Share this article

Virat Kohli has scored 50+ runs in 5 of his last 6 innings

Expired

Captain fantastic Virat Kohli is a man in fantastic form with the bat for India. (Getty Images)

Sri Lanka vs India Cricket World Cup Preview, Predictions & Betting Tips

India’s Virat Kohli has led by example during the 2019 Cricket World Cup and has a fantastic chance to score a sixth fifty of the tournament on Saturday. His team faces a struggling Sri Lanka side at Headingley and Kohli is tipped for a half century at 1.91.

Sri Lanka Form & Team News

Sri Lanka are out of the Cricket World Cup and have nothing but pride left to play for. Coach Chandika Hathurusingha has been under fire for some time and both he and his players could be forgiven for feeling low on motivation.

Sri Lanka have been hit all over the park in most matches and the trend continued even into their last match, a 23 run win over the West Indies. Hathurusingha’s side conceded 315 runs in that match and 334 against Australia, losing by 10 wickets to New Zealand and nine to South Africa.

Only Afghanistan have a worse net run rate at the 2019 Cricket World Cup and there is no longer a truly outstanding bowler in the attack for Sri Lanka. Even Lasith Malinga is not quite what he once was.

Upsets can happen in cricket and a win for underdogs Sri Lanka can be backed for the match against India at 6.00. I think that the underdogs’ bowling problems mean there is value with Virat Kohli for a big innings.

Sri Lanka still have Lasith Malinga's experience to draw from but are generally lacking in the bowling department. (Getty Images)

India Form & Team News

India’s Cricket World Cup campaign has been the polar opposite of Sri Lanka’s and their captain has shown heaps of consistency. Virat Kohli has scored five half centuries in his last six innings.

Coach Ravi Shastri will rely on Kohli to deliver once more with the 2011 World Champions having regained their momentum in the win over Bangladesh. This followed their only blemish of the tournament to date against England.

India have won all other matches apart from the abandoned one against New Zealand. They can be backed for another victory over Sri Lanka at 1.18 with half century king Virat Kohli offering value at 1.91 to score 50+ runs.

Sri Lanka vs India Head to Head

18 past ODI series between Sri Lanka and India have produced 13 India wins, two for Sri Lanka and three draws. Their most famous encounter came in the 2011 World Cup final which India won by six wickets in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka vs India Live Stream

Live streaming the Sri Lanka vs India Cricket World Cup match via bet365 is an ideal way of keeping up with all the action on your iPhone, iPad, Android device or computer. Before watching, check the terms and conditions on their website.

Sri Lanka vs India Match Up

Virat Kohli averages 59.08 in ODI matches against Sri Lanka which would be incredible for most players but is pretty standard for him. The star India batsman has a career ODI average of 59.52.

Lasith Malinga remains the main threat in the Sri Lanka bowling attack but with 12 wickets at the tournament so far, he is not the main threat that Kohli has faced.

Virat Kohli is backed for a sixth fifty in seven innings for India. (Getty Images)

Sri Lanka vs India Key Statistics

Sri Lanka have the second worst net run rate at the 2019 Cricket World Cup at -0.934.
India’s Virat Kohli has a career average of 59.52 (ODIs).
India’s Virat Kohli has scored 50+ runs in 5 of his last 6 innings (Cricket World Cup).

Verdict

Virat Kohli is in steady form and is backed to do the business against a Sri Lanka side with little on the line. I am tipping Kohli for a sixth fifty in seven innings at 1.91 and to be India's top batsman.

Best Bet: Virat Kohli Score 50+ Runs @ 1.91 at bet365 - 4 Units

Value Bet: Virat Kohli Top India Batsman @ 3.10 at bet365 - 1 Unit