A second-string Indian side will take on the Asia Cup 2022 champions, Sri Lanka, to kick off the year 2023 with a 3-T20I series starting Tuesday. It will be followed by a 3-ODI series where the senior trio of Rohit, Rahul, and Kohli – rested for the T20Is -will return.
After the T20 World Cup semi-final knockout by England, Hardik Pandya led a second-string unit to a T20I series win in New Zealand, and the all-rounder, touted as the next white-ball captain, will continue to captain the youngsters and the fringe players in the shortest format.
Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka to an unexpected Asia Cup triumph, but they couldn’t leave any major impression at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Also, Sri Lanka have never won a bilateral series against India in India. So Shanaka and his boys might want to stun the world further.
In this article, we will see the probable playing XI of both the teams, and predict the winner in first IND vs SL T20I:
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
IND vs SL Pitch Report
We can expect a batting beauty as usual at the Wankhede, which is also famous for its short boundaries and the dew factor kicking in in the second innings of an evening T20I, making chasing a preferred option for the captain winning the toss.
IND vs SL Predicted playing XI:
India will have to take a call on Ishan Kishan’s opening partner between Gill and Gaikwad, with reports saying the Gill is set to make his T20I debut. Given that a third spinner is not required at the Wankhede – Hooda can be the third spinner – Axar Patel might be benched for Sundar.
India probable XI:
Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad/Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (C), Washington Sundar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh
Avishka Fernando has been given a recall but is unlikely to break into the first XI.
Sri Lanka probable XI:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan/Dilshan Madushanka
IND vs SL 1st T20I match prediction: India to win
Even though it is a second-string Indian side, all the players are heavily experienced in the IPL and have played at the Wankhede. Plus, at this ground, Sri Lanka’s spin duo of Hasaranga and Theekshana are unlikely to be as effective as on most other venues in Asia.
We are banking on this second-string Indian side to continue India’s dominance at home.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (VC for ODIs), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (only for T20Is), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga (VC for T20Is), Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay (only for ODIs), Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando (only for ODIs), Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara (only for T20Is).
