Sri Lanka VS India, 1st T20I

 

India will look to give the worldcup hopefuls a longer rope. © Getty

The Picture

Games are coming thick and fast as India are set to play another series against the Lankans within a period of 7 months, but this time on their own shores. India is coming off a successful series after they blanked the West Indies in both formats and by bossing the crunch situations that could have swung the games onto either side. The duo of Rohit and Dravid have had a very successful stint together until now and couldn't have asked for a better start. Sri Lanka on the other hand are coming off a 4-1 series defeat against the Australians. Their batsmen have failed to kick off and complement the good job done by their bowlers. Perhaps similar conditions are their need of the hour. They have brilliant players in Asalanka, Chameera and Chamika Karunaratne, who are capable to swing games in their favour when they get going and the addition of Mahesh Theekshana has bolstered their spin department and he along with Hasaranga(when available) could forge a brilliant partnership. They will also know that the Indian batsmen struggle to score against spin as was evident with the tremendous success of Roston Chase. India will be without Kohli, Pant and the injured Chahar and Suryakumar but would be bolstered by the return of Jadeja and Bumrah. Sri Lanka will also be likely without Hasaranga who continued to test positive for covid and is still in Australia making it a tad more difficult for the visitors. India begin as favourites but it will also be prudent to remember that the last time they faced the Lankans, lost 2-1 albeit a second string team with a couple of the members down with covid. This should make this series a little more intersting.

When:  24 February 2022, Thursday

Time:   7:00 P.M (IST)

Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Team News

Sri Lanka

Hasaranga is likely to miss the entire series and Mahesh Theekshana and Kusal Mendis are nursing niggles and remain doubtful. 

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka/ Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama/ Mahesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara

India

India are likely to go with a similar 4 man pace attack including Venkatesh Iyer and a 2 man spin attack featuring the returning Jadeja. Sanju Samson is all but certain to feature in the eleven and Bumrah will be back as the leader of the pack.

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi/ Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/ Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Pitch and Playing Conditions

Pleasant conditions with a high of 25 degrees is in the offing and that should provide some respite to the visitors who are just back from Australia. There have been four T20I's played here and the team batting first has emerged victorious in each and every one of them.

Interesting Facts

• India has 9 consecutive wins in the format. If they ensure a whitewash this series, it will take them to 12 wins which will be the joint highest streak along with Afghanistan and Romania.