After the recently concluded ODI series, India, and Sri Lanka will be locking horns in the shortest format of the game. The three-match series is expected to be evenly contested for the fans as the selectors of India have named a relatively young squad.
However, the batting line-up is similar except Shikhar Dhawan who was the Man of the Series in the ODIs. Rohit Sharma, the stand-in skipper would hope that he starts with a win in the T20I series unlike the ODIs. Though he would try to find a perfect balance between the youngsters and the veterans in the squad.
The opening combination is set to change as KL Rahul will replace Shikhar Dhawan alongside Rohit. will be to proving his worth in the squad as he was dropped following poor returns in the series against Sri Lanka away and Australia at home.
The middle-order will be similar as it was in the ODI series with the Shreyas Iyer he Tat no.3 followed by Manish Pandey or Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni as Rohit must be looking to play with one extra bowler in T20Is. Moreover, Dinesh Karthik or Manish Pandey will have a golden opportunity to prove themselves ahead of the announcement for the limited-overs squad for South Africa. Though, MS Dhoni is still an automatic inclusion as he might well be on its way at the death overs in Cuttack. Sri Lankan bowlers need to be careful with him as they might have to face the ferocious Mahi in the T20Is.
Despite the fact that, Hardik Pandya had a comparatively lean ODI series, he still makes into the squad. He will be eager to smash a few maximums after coming in to bat in the final overs of the innings in the T20I series.
The wrist-spinning duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will surely be making into the squad after their exhibition of spin bowling on Sunday. They might get the support of Washington Sundar if the conditions suit the spinners. However, the wrist spin duo is in good form and if they can replicate the same performance, India might register another series win comfortably.
Jasprit Bumrah will lead the bowling attack in the absence of his partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He will get the support of Jaydev Unadkat in order to get the much-needed variety to the one-dimensional bowling attack. Interestingly, he also had a brilliant IPL season earlier this year with Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) as the franchise made it to the finals. They might also get the support of Basil Thampi if the conditions support the pacers.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey/Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar/ Basil Thampi, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat.
