In the second ODI at Hambantota, the Indians will have an edge as Lanka's most consistent new-ball bowler in recent times, Nuwan Kulasekara, will not seen in action for the remainder of the series due to injury. In the first one-dayer last Saturday Kulasekara had strained his groin while attempting a catch. Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who is yet to debut in ODIs, has been called up to the Sri Lanka squad for the remainder of the one-day series. The other important Sri Lanka bowler Lasith Malinga was not effective in the first ODI, and for the first time in a ODI, Malinga conceded 80 runs or more without taking a single wicket.

In the first ODI, Indian bowlers, except Irfan Pathan, were not effective. Irfan Pathan was getting swing and was looking in rhythm. Indian bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav were very costly. They both conceded 63 and 76 runs in their 10-over spells, and picked one and two wickets each. Spinner Pragyan Ojha's performance was not up to the mark. However, he picked up Mahela Jayawardene's important wicket but conceded 44 runs in six overs. Offbreak bowler R. Ashwin was good and claimed two wickets.

In the second ODI, Indian bowlers will need more discipline in bowling. In the calender year 2012, Kumar Sangakkara has become the first batsman to aggregate 1,000 runs in ODIs at an average of 45.13 in 25 games. He crossed the milestone during his 133 runs inning against India in the first ODI. However, no other Sri Lankan batsmen in the first ODI scored enough runs to secure victory.

Indian vice-captain Virat Kohli recorded his fifth successive score of fifty-plus inning in the first ODI. Kohli has overtaken former Aussies opener Matthew Hayden's aggregate of 529 at an average of 132.25 in 2007. In the last five innings Kohli scored 596 runs at an average of 149. In the first ODI it was Virender Sehwag's first half-century in six innings since he scored 219 runs at Indore on December 8, 2011 against the West Indies.

In the second ODI, Indian captain MS Dhoni may replace Rohit Sharma with Manoj Tiwari. However, both the teams are likely to be unchanged. If India wins the toss, then they are likely to bat. In Hambantota, the wind factor may be the biggest challence for the batsmen. Batsmen need to be careful when playing shots against the wind or with the wind, and bowlers may take advantage as they will get swing from the wind.