Dilhara Fernando during a practice session, in Bulawayo, on Saturday. (AP)

Bulawayo: Their pride dented by the embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe in the tri-series opener, a jolted India will hope to revive their campaign against Sri Lanka in the second match of the here Sunday.

It was hardly the start Suresh Raina would have hoped for in his debut as captain as India lost by six wickets to the hosts on Friday with 10 balls to spare.

Missing their regular stars, India were given a rude shock by the Zimbabweans who chased down a rather stiff target of 286 with consummate ease.

Indian bowlers let down the team but the batting was not too impressive either and had it not been for Rohit Sharma’s well-made 114 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 61 after a top-order collapse, getting to 285 would have also been a difficult task.

“We need to work on our bowling and fielding department to come back against Sri Lanka,” Raina said after the match.

Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay were always going to find it difficult to replicate the flying starts that India are so used to with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top.

The middle order looks tight with Raina, Rohit and Jadeja in good nick.

The bowling is, however, a worry as the team found out against Zimbabwe.

Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda failed to either take wickets or stem the run flow against lowly side while R Vinay Kumar proved expensive. Raina minced no words in expressing his disappointment after the match.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have also brought a young team and have rested key players, prominent among them are regular skipper Kumar Sangakkara and the in-form Mahela Jayawardene.

Tillekaratne Dilshan is leading the side without having the services of senior players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga. All-rounder Angelo Mathews is Dilshan’s deputy on his maiden assignment as captain for an ODI series.

Muttiah Muralidharan, who was ruled out during the World Twenty20 due to a groin injury, is also not there in the side. The new-look team features greenhorns like all-rounder Jeewan Mendis and left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne.

The trio of opener Upul Tharanga, middle-order batsman Chamara Silva and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who were ignored for the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, are the prominent names in the squad.

It seems to be an evenly-matched contest where two inexperienced sides face off but given the opening loss to Zimbabwe, India can hardly afford to relax.

After all, a tour meant to test India’s bench strength could well become an embarrassment if the young side fails to rise to the occasion.

Teams

India (from): Dinesh Karthik, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ashok Dinda, R Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Pankaj Singh, Amit Mishra, R Ashwin, Naman Ojha, Pragyan Ojha.

Sri Lanka (from): Tillekeratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Thissira Perera.

Match starts: 12:30pm