The upcoming T20I series between India and Sri Lanka is set to begin on July 27 in Pallekele. Suryakumar Yadav will lead India as the new T20I captain, heading a formidable squad into the series. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has also put together a strong team. Despite India being the current T20 World Champions, Sri Lanka poses a significant challenge on their home turf. This contest is shaping up to be a thrilling one.
TEAMS OVERVIEW
Sri Lanka Overview
Following a disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, Sri Lanka looks to regroup and strengthen their team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Charith Asalanka has taken over the captaincy of the T20I team and carries a significant responsibility to perform with the bat.
Key batters to keep an eye on include Kusal Mendis, who has scored 338 runs in his last 10 matches with an average of 33.8 and a strike rate of 140, and Pathum Nissanka, who has accumulated 180 runs in his last 7 matches at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 170. Mendis has shown prowess against India in T20Is, with 3 fifties in 6 innings and a strike rate of 149.
Dinesh Chandimal enters the series in good form, having scored 287 runs at a strike rate of 168.82 in the LPL. With his experience, the 34-year-old will play a crucial role for the team.
Wanindu Hasaranga will be a key figure in the bowling department, having taken 16 wickets in his last 8 matches with an economy rate of 6.38. Matheesha Pathirana will lead Sri Lanka’s pace attack with his accuracy and ability to generate movement, posing a challenge for India’s strong batting lineup.
However, Sri Lanka will be without the services of fast bowlers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera due to health issues. This absence puts pressure on players like Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana to step up in the bowling department.
India Overview
Several key players from India’s World T20 winning squad will not be participating in the upcoming T20I series. The retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, along with Jasprit Bumrah’s rest, have left a void in the team.
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are set to open the innings, with Jaiswal in impressive form following the recent series against Zimbabwe. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to anchor the middle order, boasting an excellent record against Sri Lanka in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya’s all-round abilities will be crucial for India, especially after his standout performances in the World Cup. In the absence of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack, while Ravi Bishnoi’s leg-spin could prove to be a game-changer.
SL vs IND Pitch Analysis
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has seen an average first innings score of 161, with Australia’s 263-3 being the highest total recorded. Teams batting first will aim to set a target between 170-180 runs to be competitive in the match.
India Predicted Playing XI:
Y Jaiswal, Ꮪ Gill , S Yadav (C), R Pant, R Singh, S Dube/Riya Parag, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, M Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:
C Asalanka (C), P Nissanka, Kusal Perera, D Chandimal/A Fernando, K Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, D Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, D Madushanka/ Asitha Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, M Pathirana
