SL vs IND: 2nd T20I Preview – India’s bench strength hopes for another strong show
After putting up a commendable fight in the last two ODIs of the three-match series, all the expectations from Sri Lanka to repeat the same in the T20I series went down in the drain as they lost the opening game in Colombo on Sunday by 38 runs.
Sri Lanka had their moments in the field, but the lack of capitalization came back to haunt them. After being inserted to bat, India made the worst possible start as Dushmantha Chameera sent back Prithvi Shaw for a golden duck on debut. However, Suryakumar Yadav and Shikhar Dhawan strung a crucial second-wicket 62-run partnership to infuse some momentum in the Indian innings.
Set 165 for the win, Sri Lanka were 90/3 in the 13th over, before Deepak Chahar struck twice in the 15th over and Bhuvneshwar Kumar rushed in to clean up the tail to tumble them out for 126 all-out. Given how the series has proceeded so far, India will start favourites once again. However, if Sri Lanka can fire once in unison, they might be in for a chance.
Team News
Sri Lanka
After being dropped from the ODIs, Sri Lanka brought back Isuru Udana in the shorter format. Although, their move did not pay much as he went wicketless in the first game. Sri Lanka might want to give Lahiru Kumara a chance in that slot.
Predicted XI: Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana/Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera
India
Shikhar Dhawan had clarified India’s approach to claim the series before going for wholesale changes as they did in the final ODI. Given that, it remains unlikely that they will alter the combination.
Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy
Match Details
Match – Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I
Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Time – 08:00 PM IST
