India are all set to play Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, starting on 3 January. This will be India’s first assignment in the new year, and Hardik Pandya will lead the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma. India are in high spirits after their Test series win at Bangladesh as well, however, former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has warned the Indian team to not be complacent as well.

“Sri Lanka are not such an ordinary team. It seems they are ordinary because if you see the previous encounters, they have lost a lot to us, but have won important games. They defeated us in the Asia Cup recently and became the Asia Cup champions,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

READ HERE: Wasim Jaffer names batting-order for 2nd Test vs New Zealand

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka beat India in the Super-4s of the Asia Cup which eventually knocked them out of the tournament as well. However, the Sri Lankan team had a poor T20 World Cup in comparison to India, who looked strong till the semi-final game against the now champions England as well.

“Don’t take Sri Lanka lightly. Some players have come after doing extremely well in the Lanka Premier League. They have game time and have come with form. Avishka Fernando is in very good form, he is coming after scoring the most runs in the LPL,” Chopra again said as well.

ALSO READ: Fans react as the first Test between INDvNZ ended in a draw

“You have Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis – so you have three good top-order batters. Towards the end of the LPL, Charith Asalanka also performed well. Bhanuka Rajapaksa doesn’t play big knocks but is effective. Dasun Shanaka plays well against India. Dhananjaya de Silva did not have a good LPL but he is a two-dimensional player,” Aakash Chopra concluded.