Indian cricket team will return to action after a month’s break with the ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting Sunday (July 18).
The Shikhar Dhawan-led side will feature many new and young faces as the first-choice players are currently in England for the upcoming five-Test series.
This series is an opportunity for the young players to claim their spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad by giving their best performance in the absence of the main players.
We will be witnessing new opening combinations on the tour. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw can be a strong opening combination, as we all witnessed their iconic partnership in the first half of IPL 2021.
Players like Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey and Hardik Pandya will want to display their best performances to retain their spot in the T20 World Cup squad.
Legendary Rahul Dravid is overseeing India’s young guns on the white-ball tour, comprising three ODIs and as many T20Is. He is one of the main reasons behind India’s enviable bench strength. Players who were part of the ‘U-19 Indian team and A teams’ are looking forward to reconnect with Dravid as their coach.
On the other hand, the hosts, Sri Lanka will also see this series as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The recent series of Sri Lanka against England was a big setback for them. Having won none of the matches, Sri Lanka will now try to put up a fight against India in the upcoming matches.
Sri Lanka recently released their 24-player squad with Dasun Shanaka as their new captain. Players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya can give the visitors a tough time.
Both India and Sri Lanka will try to win this series ahead of the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka will be playing the first round in the World Cup in order to book their place in the Super 12s.
Indian Squad:
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya.
Sri Lankan Squad:
Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Ramesh Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Ishan Jayaratne, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Minod Bhanuka, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Shiran Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara.
Where to Watch: Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD and SonyLIV
Venue: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Head-to-Head:
Total Matches – 159
India – 91
Sri Lanka – 56
Tied – 1
No result – 11
