With Virat Kohli and Co. staying in the UK for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, a completely new Indian team led by Shikhar Dhawan was announced for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.

This new team consists of some newcomers like Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan. But according to former India cricketer Irfan Pathan, Prithvi Shaw is most likely open the innings with Dhawan in the first ODI considering his form in domestic cricket.

“If he is scoring in domestic cricket then he can score in international cricket, as well. So, that IPL performance confidence, will definitely boost his performance in Sri Lanka, as well,” Pathan said in Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Connected’.

The right-hand batsman scored a record 827 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 which is India’s premier domestic One-Day tournament with an amazing average of 165.40 along with a strike rate of 138.29. He scored four hundreds in 8 matches including an unbeaten double hundred.

SL v IND 2021: ODI series to get underway on July 18, confirms BCCI Secretary Jay Shah

The former India all-rounder then explained how the Mumbai-based batsman has made a technical adjustment after a lean patch last year.

“He will be able to capitalize on the performance he gained in Vijay Hazare Trophy. So, what he did, he went out to domestic cricket after his poor run last year in the IPL.”

“He scored tons of runs in domestic cricket and then he tried to replicate the same in the IPL – he was able to do it consistently as well. The way he did it – with the right technique – he did some adjustments in the technique. His bat is coming close to his body – which is fantastic – he is very, very still, that helps,” the former left-arm quick said.

After a COVID-19 outbreak in the Sri Lankan camp, the ODI series between India and Sri Lanka that was slated to begin from 13 July has now been postponed to 18 July.

(With Star Sports Inputs)