After clinching the ODI and T20I series against South Africa, India’s next assignment is a 2018 Nidahas Trophy Twenty20 tri-series in Sri Lanka which involves neighbors Bangladesh apart from hosts Sri Lanka.

India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I, Preview

In the first game of the series, India will take on the hosts Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Even though India has rested their top players, the visitors still are favorite for the first encounter of the series.

India

Indian selectors rested a number of their players which includes skipper Kohli along with MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya. Fast bowler duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah along with chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav too have been given a break.

With star players rested, India will look to test their bench-strength in this series. Skipper Rohit Sharma along with Shikhar Dhawan will open for India with Raina and Manish Pandey to follow. While the top order looks settled even without Kohli, the middle order selection can be a tough ask for the Indian think tank. With Dhoni’s absence, It will be interesting to see who handles the responsibility for India as two wicket keepers in the form of Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant are in the side.

In the bowling department, Jaydev Unadkat and Yuzvendra Chahal will be back in the side to partner with Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel respectively. It will be interesting to see If India’s combination for this match with respect to their bowling department.

Sri Lanka

 Sri Lanka has made a number of changes in their squad as injured skipper Mathews has been ruled out of the series. Niroshan Dickwella too has been dropped from the side. Chandimal who led the side during the 2-match T20 series against Bangladesh will lead the Sri Lankan side for the series.

Sri Lanka has struggled against India in the recent times. This will be their opportunity to salvage the fans faith by winning the tri-series at home. However, injuries to experienced Mathews and aggressive Asela Gunaratne hasn’t helped them in their chances.

Kusal Mendis has shown great form in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh where he smashed back-to-back fifties. Dickwella was dropped from the side which means It will be Kusal Perera who will don the gloves for the hosts behind the wicket. Apart from Dickwella, Sri Lanka may not tinker their team combination much.

Form Guide

India beat the South African side 2-1 in the recently concluded 3-match T20I series while Sri Lankans were too hot to handle in their previous T20I series against Bangladesh. The 2-match series saw Sri Lanka whitewash Bangladesh.

However, when the two sides met each other last time, It was India who handed the Lankans a clean sweep in the 3-match series.

Possible XI: India

Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar/Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jaydev Unadkat.

Possible XI: Sri Lanka

Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.

Tags: 1st T20I, Colombo, India, Preview, R Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka