India and Sri Lanka will be locking horns with each other for the third and the final T20I on Friday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. With the first T20I washed out, the series is delicately placed with either team looking for a win albeit for different reasons. While India looks to start the new decade with a series win, Sri Lanka would love to get one over their Asian neighbors.
On a good batting track in Indore, the Indian bowlers ran through the Sri Lankan batsmen as they put on a dominant performance to gain an unassailable lead. Walking along those same lines, the men in blue will enter this game as the overwhelming favorites. However, the Sri Lankans have a reputation to come up with a special performance and shouldn’t be counted out just yet.
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A good batting track awaits with some help for the pacers on offer in Pune. With the dimensions of the ground being relatively smaller, batsmen can be excepted to rule the proceedings with chasing being the ideal scenario for both the teams. With there being no rainfall on the forecast, one can expect a high scoring encounter on Friday. Here are some of teh predictions for the game:
India:
The hosts haven’t put any wrong foot in Indore to gain the series lead and should, in all probability, go unchanged unless a last-minute injury. Virat Kohli gave sound reasoning for sticking with his more attacking spin options of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar – a host of left-handed Sri Lankan batsmen – and would likely persist with the same bowling combination from Game 2.
Predicted XI: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka:
“In a hell lot of pain” after hurting his back during India’s chase in Indore, Isuru Udana couldn’t be seen playing in the Pune finale. Kasun Rajitha is the only pace-bowling replacement in the squad. Angelo Mathews, among the first ones to hit the nets in training, could find a place in the XI t the expense of a pure batsman in the middle order as he also brings with him a wealth of experience that is bound to come handy as Sri Lanka aim to draw level.
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Predicted XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando/Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kasun Rajitha/Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga (C), Lahiru Kumara
Fantasy XI Prediction
Kusal Perera, KL Rahul (C), Virat Kohli, Danushka Gunathilaka, Isuru Udana, Dasun Shanaka, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav and Wanindu Hasaranga.
