India Vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Match - Highlights

In the year 2009, the Indian team has so far played 26 ODI matches, of which it has won 14. If you discount the no result matches, the equation reads 14 matches won out of 23. It gives a winning percentage of 60.86, but for a side that has been the Number One ranked team in ODIs not too long ago, that is on the lower side. For a side that can credibly aspire to regain the Number One ranking, it is definitely on the lower side.Sri Lanka's numbers for 2009 are more reflective of their middling rank - they have won and lost 11 matches out of the 22 they have played this year.In the backdrop of this, the ODI series between the two sides assumes more significance, since both sides have a strong point to prove - India want to do well to justify their ranking (or hold on to it), and Sri Lanka want to do well to improve on an average performance in the year so far.On paper, the Indian team is stronger - but then, when Australia came here with a severely depleted side barely a month ago, the Indians were also stronger on paper. They ended up losing that series 4-2, and such was the nature of many of the matches that the scoreline could have easily been reversed.