SL vs IND 2024, SL vs IND 3rd T20I Match Preview

Big picture: Sri Lanka’s central concerns

In the first T20I, Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 30 runs. In the second, they lost seven of 32. This has been the home team’s theme so far in Charith Asalanka’s first series as Sri Lanka’s full-time T20I captain. Asalanka himself managed to score 0 and 14 in these two games.

The top three fired in both matches, with Sri Lanka scoring 140 and 80 at the end of the second wicket. Pathum Nissanka is the leading run scorer in the series. Kusal Perera has a half-century, while Kusal Mendis made 45 in the first match. But apart from them, it was a poor performance, as Kamindu Mendis’ 26 in the second T20I got high scores from the middle and lower order.

India would want some of their batsmen like Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag to get more time in the middle, and having closed the series with a complete performance, they don’t have much else they need to sort out.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLWLL (Last five T20Is completed, most recent)

India WWWWW

Highlights – Pathum Nissanka and Rishabh Pant

Group news

Sri Lanka are likely to field the same XI that came out in the second match. However, one of Avishka Fernando or Dinesh Chandimal may come in for Dasun Shanaka, who has three ducks in his last three T20Is. They brought in Romesh Mendis for Dilshan Madushanka, Asalanka saying that the spin would get more help in the used area, but in the rain interrupted match, Romesh was not used at all. However, although this match will be played at a new stadium, Sri Lanka is likely to continue with Romesh, as he adds depth to the batting.

Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis (wk), 3. Kusal Perera, 4. Kamindu Mendis, 5. Charith Asalanka (capt), 6. Dinesh Chandimal/Avishka Fernando, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga , 8. Romesh Mendis, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Matheesha Pathirana, 11. Asitha Fernando

Having played two matches in two days, India may rest one of their fast bowlers, with Khaleel Ahmed waiting in the wings. Washington Sundar could get a game again, if India continues the practice of trying to give every member of the team a game on tour whenever possible, which was prevalent during the Rahul Dravid era. Shivam Dube can also come in, but since Hardik Pandya is not part of the ODI squad, India may stick with him so he doesn’t tip and change too much. There is also no news on Shubman Gill, who missed the second game with a sprained neck. With Gill set to play in the ODIs, India can stick with Samson, who got out with the first ball in the second T20I.

India (probable XI): 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Sanju Samson, 3. Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Riyan Parag/Washington Sundar, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7 .Rinku Singh, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Arshdeep Singh/Khaleel Ahmed

Tone and context

After two matches at the same stadium, this match will be played at a new venue in Pallekele. In the first two games, the batting conditions were good early on and became more difficult as the game progressed, bringing spinners into play and an encouraging change of pace from the quicks. The new platform is not expected to play much differently.

Math and trivia

Quotes

“Obviously, we don’t have enough power, but that is not true, if you look at our statistics this year, we are facing other teams with six hits. outside the field or just clearing the border, it’s still 6 more than the skills, I think handling situations and sticking to difficult situations have been problems. Sri Lankan batting coach Thilina Kandamby for group problems.