India's captain Rohit Sharma will look to continue their winning spree when they will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the first T20 of the three-match series at Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on February 24 (Thursday). After pocketing back to back series sweep against West Indies, India and Sri Lanka will square off in three T20Is and two Tests. Although India are coming into this series with a clear favourite but it won't be an easy road for the Men in Blue who will be without the services of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.
Not just this, Suryakumar Yadav has also been ruled out of the series alongside Deepak Chahar due to injuries which will put resposibility on the back of Venkatesh Iyer who has contributed heavily in India's winning spree. Also, the absence of such established players will pave the path for the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer to show what they are capable of.
With the number of claimants increasing heading into T20 World Cup, there will be no let-up in India's willingness to experiment or their intensity in the three-match T20 series.
Sanju Samson has also been drafted into the squad and it would be interesting to see whether the management gives him a go in the playing XI.
Spinner Ravi Bishnoi also impressed in his maiden T20I series and he will look to march ahead with the same momentum.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has come back into the team to bolster the bowling attack and, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj, will comprise a formidable pace bowling unit.
Bhuvneshwar will take confidence from his fine showing against the West Indies, especially in the death overs.
Recently, head coach Rahul Dravid had said that he and Rohit are pretty clear about the team for the marquee tournament in Australia in less than eight months' time.
"I think we have got a fair idea between Rohit and myself and the selectors and the management," Dravid had said after the 3-0 clean sweep over the West Indies.
As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, the side suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Australia and was let down by batting time and again.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka would hope that their batting gets its act together against India.
The bowling will need to recover fast as star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the series after failing to recover from his COVID-19 infection. Also, batsman Kusal Mendis and spinner Maheesh Theekshana are doubtful for the first T20I match of the series.
However, Sri Lanka's top-order failed to live up to the expectations in Australia.
"We want the top-order to fire. Whenever the top order is among the runs we have a better chance of wining. India have a strong bowling lineup and we are expecting our top-order to fire which will give our bowlers a chance to defend," said Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka in the pre-match press conference.
"The youngsters have been in the system for a while, they have performed in domestic cricket. It has become normal with the COVID situation. All the teams are facing it. Wanindu will be a weakness for us but we know that he will be back soon. Still our squad is strong enough." Shanaka added.
India's squad: India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Avesh Khan.
Sri Lanka's squad (subject to change): Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kamil Mishara, Janith Liyanage, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ashian Daniel.
