Visakhapatnam
Looking ahead: Fresh starts
While both teams are starting afresh, their recent performances paint contrasting pictures. India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy, while Sri Lanka suffered an early exit from the tournament. India continued their winning momentum in a series against Zimbabwe, while Sri Lanka’s players were engaged in the Lanka Premier League, with Asalanka guiding Jaffna Kings to victory.
Sri Lanka WLLWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India WWWWL
Player focus: Matheesha Pathirana and Shubman Gill
Team updates: India considers spin options
India may opt for a spin-heavy bowling attack, with Ravi Bishnoi likely to be included. Sri Lanka’s batting order will see changes, with Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal vying for the No. 3 spot.
Sri Lanka 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Avishka Fernando, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Binura Fernando/Asitha Fernando, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Matheesha Pathirana
For India, the middle-order spot will be contested among Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag.
India 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Ravi Bishnoi/Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Pitch conditions: Favoring spinners
The weather forecast predicts possible rain during the day but clear skies in the evening, minimizing disruptions to the match.
Interesting facts: India’s stronghold
“Hardik [Pandya] has had the same role throughout and that’s not going to change. He’s a very important player for the team and we want him to continue the things he did in the World Cup.”
Suryakumar Yadav on Hardik Pandya’s role in the team
