The big picture: A new beginning
It will be the beginning of a new T20I era for both India and Sri Lanka when they face each other in Pallekele on Saturday. In India, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from the format and Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the new captain. Sri Lanka moved on from Angelo Mathews, while Charith Asalanka replaced Wanindu Hasaranga. Both teams have a new coach. India have Gautam Gambhir and Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya, albeit temporarily.
Although it’s a fresh start for both teams, their starting points couldn’t be more different. India recently ended their long-awaited ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, a tournament where Sri Lanka were knocked out in the first round.
India then sent a second-round team to Zimbabwe where they won the five-match T20I series 4-1. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan players were busy with the Lankan Premier League where Asalanka led the Jaffna Kings to win the title.
Both Asalanka and Suryakumar have previously led their national sides. Asalanka in two T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this year and Suryakumar in seven T20Is in late 2023 against Australia and South Africa.
India haven’t been an absolute force in this series, though. Jasprit Bumrah, arguably the best bowler in the world right now, has been rested. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, suffered a few blows before the start of the series. First, they lost Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera to injuries, and now there is a fever going around their camp, forcing them to call Ramesh Mendis as a reserve.
Sri Lanka WLLWL (last five T20Is completed, most recent)
India WWWWL
Highlights: Matheesha Pathirana and Shubman Gill
Playing for Colombo Strikers, Matheesha Pathirana became the second highest wicket-taker in the LPL with 15 scalps in nine matches. What stood out the most was his death bowling. In that category, his economy of 7.02 was the best among those who bowled at least five overs at the death. Throughout the tournament, Pathirana never bowled more than one over in the first half of the innings, a template that Sri Lanka could follow again. And having played in the IPL since 2022, Pathirana has a lot of experience of bowling against the Indian batsmen.
Shubman Gill admitted that his performance in T20Is ahead of the T20 World Cup was not up to expectations. From August 2023 until the World Cup, he scored 133 runs in eight T20Is, at an average of 16.62 and a strike rate of 126.66. Although he did much better in the IPL – 426 runs at an average of 38.72 and a strike rate of 147.40 – once India settled on their opening mindset with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the World Cup, there was no room for Gill in the group. . But the selectors showed their faith by naming him vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is. It’s up to Gill now to bring it back.
Team news: Will India play three spinners?
Kusal Perera had an excellent LPL as an opener. But with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis being the first choice for that role, Perera will have to fight with Avishka Fernando for the 3rd role.
Sri Lanka 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Avishka Fernando/Kusal Perera, 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Binura Fernando/Asitha 10 Dilshan, Madushanka, 11 Matheesha Pathirana
Given the circumstances, India are likely to pick Ravi Bishnoi as the third bowler ahead of Khaleel Ahmed. Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag will compete for one central spot.
India 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Ravi Bishnoi/Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Tone and shape: Spin over the seam
In the LPL, Pallekele’s first innings average in five games was 185. In those matches, the spinners did better, registering an economy of 7.64, compared to the fast bowlers, who went for 10.58 runs per over.
There is a forecast of rain during the day but not in the evening. So the game should not be affected much.
Maths and trivia: India’s governance
“Hardik [Pandya] you have had the same role throughout and that will not change. He is a very important player in the team and we want him to continue the things he did in the World Cup.”
Suryakumar Yadav in Hardik Pandya’s role in the side
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![IND vs NZ [WATCH]: Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket masterclass destroys New Zealand on Day 1 of the 3rd Test](https://i0.wp.com/crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.webp?resize=390%2C220&ssl=1 "IND vs NZ [WATCH]: Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket masterclass destroys New Zealand on Day 1 of the 3rd Test")
