Interesting tidbits as India face-off Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka are to become the first team to play 150 ODI matches against each other when they face-off in the Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Kennington Oval, London today.

The aggregate lead for India going into this game is 83-54 and since 2008 India have also won twice as many matches than they have lost against their Asian rivals -- aggregate stand at 34-17.

3 times India and Sri Lanka have clashed in Champions Trophy history. They played twice in the 2002 Final (and the replay) and both games were washed out, resulting in trophy being shared. India beat Sri Lanka at Cardiff in 2013 by 8 wickets in the other encounter.

Sri Lanka’s top weapon Lasith Malinga has been expensive in certain instances against India. He has conceded over 80 runs seven times in his career, three of those coming against India.

Since 2014 Malinga has played 33 matches against India -- his economy rate is 42.2 in these games – but he has also picked up 38 wickets.

4 times Lasith Malinga has got the wicket of Yuvraj, the joint-most by him among Indian batsmen. He has also dismissed Sachin Tendulkar 4 times.

Ashwin needs a 5-wicket haul to complete 150 ODI wickets -- whether he would feature in the match squad is another thing altogether.

India’s Virat Kohli is close to reaching 8000 runs in ODI’s – he needs 164 runs more to reach the target – one never knows with Kohli. He will become the fastest to reach the 8000-run club if he he reaches the milestone against Sri Lanka today – If he gets there in two innings, he equals AB de Villiers.

1 wicket required for Nuwan Kulasekara to complete 200 wickets in ODIs

Sri Lanka are still a team in transition, and it would be a difficult one as they look for in able replacements for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Upul Tharanga was handed a two-match suspension owing to slow over rates.

Sri Lanka will be desperate to get a victory today. They are the only team in the group without a single point to their name.

Showers are likely today -- chances are it will take place at some point during the first innings.

Points Table