Overview:
After suffering a heart-breaking loss in the 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka finally ended the ODI Series with a thumping win. Though they couldn’t win the series, they have the momentum with them for the T20I opener after chasing the target in just 39 overs.
India, who got all out for just 225 while batting first which they did for the first time in the series will still be content stepping into the T20I Series owing to 2 reasons one of which is that their side had 5 debutants and on top of that their attacking approach which seemed a bit questionable in the final 2 ODIs, would be perfect for this format.
Venue And Time:
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo at 8 PM (IST)
Team News:
With T20I World Cup approaching and this series being India's final one in the shortest format, India would want to make the best use of this series to finalize who are the ones travelling to UAE in October for the big Tournament. 7 Players made their debut for them in the ODI Series and we expect something similar in the T20I series as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Varun Chakravarthy – the only 3 players, not to get a chance yet in the tour could be picked. Though, the chances of both Padikkal and Gaikwad getting selected together are slim, Varun Chakravarthy looks all set for his debut. Manish Pandey could find himself out of the XI.
India Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Rana, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy.
For Sri Lanka, Isuru Udana might find a place in the T20I side while Wanindu Hasaranga will most likely make a return. Rest of the side is likely to remain the same as the final ODI.
Sri Lanka Probable XI: Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (WK), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya.
Pitch Report:
Expect the pitch to favour the batsmen but the team winning the toss would like to field first as all 3 ODI were won by the chasing sides. Spinners could play a vital role though.
Fun Facts:
1. If Shikhar Dhawan scores a half-century, he would complete the half-century of his international half-centuries. He currently has 49 international half-centuries to his name.
2. The Indian skipper is just one hit away from completing 50 T20I Sixes and become the 6th Indian to reach the milestone after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni.
3. Dasun Shanaka, who was dismissed for a golden duck in the final ODI, has 7 T20I ducks to his name – most by any Sri Lankan who has played less than 80 T20Is. These ducks include the 3 consecutive ducks in 2017 against 3 different opponents in 3 different venues.
Dream XI Prediction:
