After a convincing victory in the first match against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second T20I as rain threat looms large. Meanwhile, Rohit didn't tinker with the playing XI.
While injured Ruturaj Gaikwad was a certainty, he is continued to be assessed, giving another lifeline to Sanju Samson.
“We are going to bowl first, just want to have a score in front of us. It's going to get colder as the game goes on. Same team for us. The changes don't depend on win or loss. It's just about what the team wants. We also have at look at niggle/injuries. We also have to take care of the guys,” India's skipper Rohit Sharma said before the match.
“Feeling very good to be here and be part of the team and performing well as a youngster when we get the opportunity. We will look to do the same thing today as well. Wicket looks pretty dry. There might be some moisture, but looks pretty fine. I think as a batter I was just looking to watch the ball and play my shots. Even when I got out on 89 I was not thinking I missed my hundred. Just wanted to score few more runs for my team,” Ishan Kishan.
“We would have bowled as well because the pitch was under the covers. The openers and the top-order need to fire. Two changes. Janith Liyanage and Jeffrey Vandersay are out. Binura Fernando,” Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka said.
Sri Lanka have never won a T20I series in India in the four attempts they've had since December 2009.
Since losing to New Zealand at the T20 World Cup, India have won ten T20Is on the trot. The record for the most successive T20I wins is held jointly by Afghanistan and Romania with 12 wins.
Sri Lanka have won three and lost 12 of the 16 T20Is they have played in India. Their win-loss ratio of 0.250 is their joint-worst in any country.
Head to head: India 15 - 7 Sri Lanka (One no result). At home, India now enjoy a 9-2 lead over Sri Lanka.
India's Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Sri Lanka's Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal(w), Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara.
