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Team India's death-overs specialist Arshdeep Singh couldn't play in the first T20I against Sri Lanka which paved the path for another star pacer Shivam Mavi, who had a fairytale debut. He made the most of the opportunity and bowled a dream spell of 4/22 to help India eke out a two-run victory in the three-match series opener on Tuesday (January 3).
Now, Hardik Pandya's brigade will be looking to field the best of the bowlers to go all guns blazing in the second T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday (January 5) to script back-to-back win and clinch the series with a match to spare. It will be interesting to see whether Pandya will still bank on Mavi if Arshdeep comes back to India's playing XI in the second T20I, or will the right-arm pacer will be dropped despite putting a dream debut for India.
Meanwhile, former India's star all-rounder Irfan Pathan raised the same concern and feared Mavi's spot in India's final XI for the second T20I in Pune.
"It will be extremely unfortunate if Shivam Mavi has to sit out after such a performance if Arshdeep comes back, because what other options do you have?" Pathan said on Star Sports.
India's pace attack performed well as beside Mavi, Umran Malik and Harshal Patel also contributed with two wickets apiece in India's victory.
But Mavi led the pace attack like a pro and kept picking wickets in regular interval whenever India required. He paired up with skipper Pandya to keep Sri Lankan batters in check in the powerplays and caused important breakthroughs. But if Arshdeep comes in it won't be easy for captain Pandya to accomodate both the pacers in the second T20I against the Islanders.
"Will you want to make Umran Malik or Harshal Patel sit out because Arshdeep is bowling exceptionally well for the last one to one-and-a-half years? So he will come back in the team as soon as he gets fit," he further added.
