After the ODI series, India and Sri Lanka will now square off in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday (July 25). All the games will be held at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Having clinched the ODI series 2-1, the Shikhar Dhawan-led side is high on confidence and they will look to replicate the same dominance in the shortest format as well.
Since India suffered a three-wicket defeat in the last ODI after making 6 changes to their playing XI, there is a high probability that the visitors won’t experiment too much in the T20I series opener.
Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents to you the Predicted Team India playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
The pair of captain Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw batted with authority in the ODI series, and it is unlikely that India will disturb the opening combination for the first T20I even though the talented Devdutt Padikkal is yet to get a game on the tour.
While Dhawan registered scores of 86*, 19 and 13 in the ODI series, Shaw batted explosively and amassed 105 runs in three games.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, who was rested for the third ODI, is expected to return to the playing XI for the first T20I. The southpaw should bat at No. 3, having scored a quickfire 59 in the ODI series opener at the same slot.
Sanju Samson, who made his ODI debut in the final game and played an elegant knock of 46, is likely to retain his spot in the playing XI. Samson’s case is a bit strong now as Manish Pandey endured failures in the 50-over series.
Featuring in his maiden ODI series, Suryakumar Yadav did a brilliant job, aggregating 124 runs and earning the Player-of-the-Series award. The right-hander should bat at No. 5 in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
Seam bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya may not have lived up to the expectations in the ODI series, but the seasoned campaigner is certain to feature in the playing XI alongside his brother Krunal Pandya at No. 6 and 7, respectively.
Coming to the pace department, Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to spearhead the attack. Both of them were impressive in the ODI series. While Chahar took four wickets in the series and played a valuable knock of 69* to script India’s victory in the second game, the Indian vice-captain returned with three scalps.
Yuzvendra Chahal, who was rested for the ODI dead rubber, is expected to be a part of the playing XI. The wrist-spinner looked in good rhythm in the two ODIs that he played and claimed five wickets from it. In the first T20I, Chahal could bowl in tandem with Rahul Chahar, who made his ODI debut in the final game and finished with impressive figures of 3/54 in 10 overs.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for first T20I:
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar
