Sri Lanka went in with three fast bowlers, with Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga as their front spinners. Dasun Shanaka, the former captain, also got a place in the XI as an all-rounder.
India opted to stretch their batting, with Axar Patel batting at number 8. This meant they had four specialist bowlers, including Axar, while Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag were expected to meet the ball. Rinku Singh was also selected as the finalist for Shivam Dube.
The Indian team management also backed Rishabh Pant to continue at No.3, the position he held in the T20 World Cup, leaving Sanju Samson to wait for his chance.
World champions India are coming off a 4-1 T20I series against second-placed Zimbabwe earlier this month. Most of the Sri Lankan players come after a full month in the Lankan Premier League.
Both teams are under a new coach: with Gautam Gambhir taking over from Rahul Dravid on a full-time basis, Sri Lanka have handed over former captain Sanath Jayasuriya on a temporary basis.
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Wanindu Hasaranga, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Matheesha Pathirana, 10 Asitha1 Dilshan Fernando, 10 Asitha1 Dilshan, Fernando
India: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Siraj
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