First T20I between India and Sri Lanka abandoned without a ball being bowled

[MenInG]

The focus will be on the returning stars Jasprit Bumrah and Angelo Mathews as India and Sri Lanka lock horns in the first T20I of an important three-match series in Guwahati.

Overview

India v Sri Lanka, 1st T20I
Barsapara Cricket Ground, Guwahati
Sunday, 5 January; 07:00pm local, 01.30pm GMT

The series will bear added significance, not least because it offers vital preparation for both sides of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia, but since it also serves as a testing ground for them to refine their combinations.

As far as testing goes, the series will be especially crucial for Jasprit Bumrah and Angelo Mathews, both of whom are returning after a hiatus. While the experienced Mathews had been axed from the Sri Lankan T20I side after a string of poor performances in mid-2018, India fast bowler Bumrah is set to return from a back injury he suffered in August last year.

Bumrah was reported to have been in good rhythm in the nets in lead up to the series. One of the most lethal bowlers in world cricket across formats with various crafty skills in the shortest form, India will hope that he finds form from game one.

Having featured in 72 T20Is scoring 1055 runs at a reasonable average of 27.05, Mathews lends solidity to a promising but sometimes frail Sri Lankan batting line-up. Hee will perhaps want to work on his strike-rate, which currently reads 118.14 in the shortest format. Batting was an area of special concern for Sri Lanka on their tour of Australia late last year – they lost 3-0 – and they will hope that the return of Mathews can help fix some of those problems.

Similarly, India will hope that Bumrah's return can bolster their bowling attack, which showed a propensity to leak runs at times during the recent series against West Indies, which India still won 2-1 on their batting might, with captain Virat Kohli producing two masterful performances.

Remember the last time

The teams last faced each other in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 when India secured a comfortable seven-wicket win in their chase of 265. Mathews scored a fine 113, but was outshone by Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, both of whom registered centuries.

As for T20Is, the teams last played each other in a tri-series match in March 2018, with an inexperienced Indian side securing a six-wicket chase of 153. Fast bowler Shardul Thakur took 4/27 to help restrain Sri Lanka.

Conditions

Only two internationals have been played at the venue and the pitch has seemed to play well for batsmen, while still provide enough support for bowlers. Weather in Guwahati is forecast to be cool and there are a few showers on the radar for the early evening but things may clear up in time for the game's scheduled start.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1561117


India Squad:Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Manish Pandey, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur

Sri Lanka Squad:Kusal Perera (wk), Lasith Malinga (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan

 

[Hyperion66]

Bumrah returns, can't wait.

 

[Ronaldo7]

This going to be interesting

 

[MenInG]

Mickey might win a T20I game after a while!

 

[Mean&Green]

Bhanuka Rajapaksha is who india need to watch out for

 

[MenInG]

India won the toss and opt to bowl

 

[Mean&Green]

Lol kohli is a such a defensive captain so scared to lose he doesn’t have trust in his bowling to defend the score against the mighty Sri Lankan’s even with Bumrah in his arsenal. Like come on Delhi boy show some guts put 250 on the board and he puts Sri Lanka in

 

[MenInG]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera(w), Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga(c)

 

[khan_aa]

Lol kohli is a such a defensive captain so scared to lose he doesn’t have trust in his bowling to defend the score against the mighty Sri Lankan’s even with Bumrah in his arsenal. Like come on Delhi boy show some guts put 250 on the board and he puts Sri Lanka in

That’s a ridiculous analysis.
He prefers to chase. That’s how they play their game.

 

[leg-side-flick]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah

Yaar the middle order is like a perpetual black spot in our team... Get top 3 within 10 overs and we will always be sub par...

 

[RajBan]

Yaar the middle order is like a perpetual black spot in our team... Get top 3 within 10 overs and we will always be sub par...

Actually middle order is slightly better compared to Rayudu, Kedar days. It's Shikhar who is really a weak link in that batting please line-up with his ODI style batting.

 

[leg-side-flick]

Actually middle order is slightly better compared to Rayudu, Kedar days. It's Shikhar who is really a weak link in that batting please line-up with his ODI style batting.

It's a notch better than WC team but it's still below par. India won't win the WC with this lineup

 

[jnaveen1980]

Even Rain is "crying" for starting thte decade with India vs SL match lol

 

[Mean&Green]

Yaar the middle order is like a perpetual black spot in our team... Get top 3 within 10 overs and we will always be sub par...

Though pant is a hack but he is quality in t20s and Shreyas is just amazing so I don’t know what you’re saying though shikhar at the top looks like he’s finished

 

[jnaveen1980]

INdia is not going to win T20 with these players.

 

[leg-side-flick]

Though pant is a hack but he is quality in t20s and Shreyas is just amazing so I don’t know what you’re saying though shikhar at the top looks like he’s finished

Bhai i will believe " Pant is quality " When he actually scores runs, right now he looks like Umar Akmal with gloves to me.

Iyer is frankly still hit and miss and then since we play 5 bowlers, that ends our batting line up.

 

[Mean&Green]

INdia is not going to win T20 with these players.

Definitely not the World Cup but against Sri Lanka this series if they chase in all the three matches yes. India don’t have a single quality t20 bowler barring Bumrah. Wrist spinners will be murdered in Australia reverse swept for sixes. India have shami but his length says hit me wherever you like. For India to win the World Cup Bumrah alone will not be enough unless he bowls better than any bowler has ever bowled in the world

 

[Mean&Green]

Bhai i will believe " Pant is quality " When he actually scores runs, right now he looks like Umar Akmal with gloves to me.

Iyer is frankly still hit and miss and then since we play 5 bowlers, that ends our batting line up.

Pants six hitting a quality at Will is insane for t20s the number he comes in at you don’t need to have anything else except for that so In t20s he’s fine. But other cricket he is extremely ordinary and possibly the luckiest player to still be playing for India after the amount of failures he’s had

 

[Mesozoic]

First game of the decade and it's Sri Lanka and on top of that it's raining.

Great.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Definitely not the World Cup but against Sri Lanka this series if they chase in all the three matches yes. India don’t have a single quality t20 bowler barring Bumrah. Wrist spinners will be murdered in Australia reverse swept for sixes. India have shami but his length says hit me wherever you like. For India to win the World Cup Bumrah alone will not be enough unless he bowls better than any bowler has ever bowled in the world

Actually wristies have to play together. Australia grounds are bigger. It is the offies that will struggle. Even in T20 rankings Wristies dominate. Reason is not everyone can go after leggies successfully.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Rashid khan is better than kuldeep and chahal in t20s and he’s getting smashed in big bash as well. He’s even better than them in IPL as well I beleive

Kuldeep vs Australia in Australia T20

4.0 0 24 2 6.00 4 1 v Australia Brisbane 21 Nov 2018 T20I # 712
4.0 0 19 1 4.75 4 1 v Australia Sydney 25 Nov 2018 T20I # 714
4.0 0 23 1 5.75 4 1 v Australia Melbourne 23 Nov 2018 T20I # 713

 

[MenInG]

The BCCI have tweeted "It has stopped raining and we will have an inspection at 8.15 PM IST."

 

[Hyperion66]

Although Chahal hasn't played any T20 in Australia, did very well in the one dayers with a 6fer.

I know, may be unpopular opinion but I think Kul-cha is a must for the world t20 this year, I feel they do better as a duo. With Pandya back I do not see any use of Jadeja in Australia of all places. His finger spin is useless in t20s and will be toyed around and he isn't that big of a hitter for a lower order bat.

 

[jnaveen1980]

This is horrible. How the heck can water seep through cover lol How substandard the cover must be. ON top of it they are bringing in hair dryer ?

 

[MenInG]

This is horrible. How the heck can water seep through cover lol How substandard the cover must be. ON top of it they are bringing in hair dryer ?

 

[praveen]

Pedestrian stuff this with pitch management .. especially in this day and age with so many fans flocking the stadium

 

[praveen]

Embarrassing

 

[Hyperion66]

This is horrible. How the heck can water seep through cover lol How substandard the cover must be. ON top of it they are bringing in hair dryer ?

Is that even normal? This is embarrassing stuff man, with all the money in the world BCCI should have spend more on infra and facilities.

 

[MenInG]

And why a pink hairdryer?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Is that even normal? This is embarrassing stuff man, with all the money in the world BCCI should have spend more on infra and facilities.

This is unheard of as Gauti and Akash said. We have seen wet outfield. But pitch is always bone dry. This is the first time ground is dry but pitch has wet patches. Probably incompetency of the highest order

 

[jnaveen1980]

And why a pink hairdryer?

My guess is hair dryers are mostly used by women. Odds are high that women's hair dryer is pink.

 

[trickyone]

And why a pink hairdryer?

Jaldi mein biwi ya gf ka leaaya hoga

 

[DeadBall]

And why a pink hairdryer?

Was thinking the same. The pointless things that bother us.

 

[RajBan]

Heads must roll for this kind of error. BCCI and Assam Cricket association must return every single rupee of the ticket money.

 

[Indiafan]

Lol they also brought an clothes iron, put a piece of paper and were literally ironing the pitch dry

 

[Indiafan]

 

[Green Patriot]

They were trying to dry out the pitch with a hairdryer.
It is obvious it was going to be abandoned.

 

[BaankeJi]

And why a pink hairdryer?

Well, women watch cricket too.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Well, women watch cricket too.

We have pink T20, pink ball cricket. I think giving gender to color originated in USA. Blue means boy, Pink means girls. Back in 1910s Pink was for boys Blue was for girls. IT is really stupid to make colors gender specific.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Definitely not the World Cup but against Sri Lanka this series if they chase in all the three matches yes. India don’t have a single quality t20 bowler barring Bumrah. Wrist spinners will be murdered in Australia reverse swept for sixes. India have shami but his length says hit me wherever you like. For India to win the World Cup Bumrah alone will not be enough unless he bowls better than any bowler has ever bowled in the world

saini is solid. don't underestimate him. Will be very good on bouncy pitches.

 

[tyron_woodley]

and guys india will always be top 4 in t20 no matter what. They can beat any team on their day. IPL is the best t20 league in the world hence all indian players are used to dealing with pressure at the elite level. No matter how crap the team is, they will somehow find a way to make it to semis and possibly finals.

 

[Mean&Green]

and guys india will always be top 4 in t20 no matter what. They can beat any team on their day. IPL is the best t20 league in the world hence all indian players are used to dealing with pressure at the elite level. No matter how crap the team is, they will somehow find a way to make it to semis and possibly finals.

I didn’t expect this post from you bro. IPL has zero pressure there is absolutely no pressure to perform hence guys like pant and pandya are stars in IPL. If you compare their t20i stats with IPL stats it’s a major difference. I don’t see them making it to the semis with one amazing bowler which is Bumrah and the other one who they keep leaving out chahal they need to play him to make it to the semis though he will get smashed he will get wickets as well.

 

[Mean&Green]

This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in my life like this is beyond imagination like and here I thought india was Richest most developed cricketing nation lol. I’m sorry all my indian fellows y’all are gonna get trolled like crazy over this. This is beyond hilarious

 

[tyron_woodley]

I didn’t expect this post from you bro. IPL has zero pressure there is absolutely no pressure to perform hence guys like pant and pandya are stars in IPL. If you compare their t20i stats with IPL stats it’s a major difference. I don’t see them making it to the semis with one amazing bowler which is Bumrah and the other one who they keep leaving out chahal they need to play him to make it to the semis though he will get smashed he will get wickets as well.

maybe but india are a mercurial t20 team rofl. You don't expect them to do well as most of them don't seem to care about t20 but they always step up in an important tournament.

no pressure in ipl? bro are you sure lol. They get paid a lot to perform for a 2 month contract. I am pretty sure their owners would want them to perform as they have invested their money into the team.

You should watch the Mumbai Indians documentary on Netflix.

Anyway maybe you are right. india is probably what? 4th best on paper ? in t20 any of those top 4 teams can beat each other since t20 is all about power hitting and economical bowling.

I would say these are the top 4. west indies, australia pakistan and India.

 

[Mean&Green]

maybe but india are a mercurial t20 team rofl. You don't expect them to do well as most of them don't seem to care about t20 but they always step up in an important tournament.

no pressure in ipl? bro are you sure lol. They get paid a lot to perform for a 2 month contract. I am pretty sure their owners would want them to perform as they have invested their money into the team.

You should watch the Mumbai Indians documentary on Netflix.

Anyway maybe you are right. india is probably what? 4th best on paper ? in t20 any of those top 4 teams can beat each other since t20 is all about power hitting and economical bowling.

I would say these are the top 4. west indies, australia pakistan and India.

Yes I agree with the top 4 people might count out Pakistan but I never count out Pakistan in t20s and especially never t20 world cups. So coming back to IPL bro there isn’t pressure cause you get one good international bowler to face and than you have three local trundlers like ramesh powar ashok dinda Mohit Sharma Vinay kumar Rajat bhatia now I doubt even a tail ender would have a problem facing these beasts I’ve just named.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Yes I agree with the top 4 people might count out Pakistan but I never count out Pakistan in t20s and especially never t20 world cups. So coming back to IPL bro there isn’t pressure cause you get one good international bowler to face and than you have three local trundlers like ramesh powar ashok dinda Mohit Sharma Vinay kumar Rajat bhatia now I doubt even a tail ender would have a problem facing these beasts I’ve just named.

lol. yea probably. You cracked me up with the local trundlers bit. so true though.

I reckon Aussies won't win again lol. hope they never win a t20 world cup.

 

[Mean&Green]

lol. yea probably. You cracked me up with the local trundlers bit. so true though.

I reckon Aussies won't win again lol. hope they never win a t20 world cup.

But I’m predicting an Aussie win trust they have a pheneomal team plus home advantage. Warner in the form of his life maxwell in the form of his life and I rate him as the best t20 player in the world even Chris Lynn will play. Their bowling Cummins starc zampa jhye Richardson they easily are the favourites for me plus they are playing at home.

 

[tyron_woodley]

But I’m predicting an Aussie win trust they have a pheneomal team plus home advantage. Warner in the form of his life maxwell in the form of his life and I rate him as the best t20 player in the world even Chris Lynn will play. Their bowling Cummins starc zampa jhye Richardson they easily are the favourites for me plus they are playing at home.

they can only win at home. That's about it. jhye perennially injured. zampa lol. c'mon bro. Don't judge teams by their t20 bilaterals.

I like to see them cry again when they get thrashed in the semis lol.

Hope it's india v pakistam final.

what do you reckon about south Africa's chances? steyn playing ?

 

[jnaveen1980]

But I’m predicting an Aussie win trust they have a pheneomal team plus home advantage. Warner in the form of his life maxwell in the form of his life and I rate him as the best t20 player in the world even Chris Lynn will play. Their bowling Cummins starc zampa jhye Richardson they easily are the favourites for me plus they are playing at home.

NZ/England/WI have equal chances in T20. NZ has some tremendous finishers. Just in case you didn't notice Warner is consistent but not aggressive like he used to be. It is Aaron Finch that will be decide their fortunes more than Warner. England have big six hitters right through the line up. But at the end of the day team which is in good bowling form will be favorites to win.

 

[Mamoon]

Pants six hitting a quality at Will is insane for t20s the number he comes in at you don’t need to have anything else except for that so In t20s he’s fine. But other cricket he is extremely ordinary and possibly the luckiest player to still be playing for India after the amount of failures he’s had

This is “extremely ordinary” player has scored Test hundreds on his first tours to Australia and England, something that that very few subcontinent players can manage (especially in England).

Your posts are getting ridiculous by the minute.

 

[Mean&Green]

This is “extremely ordinary” player has scored Test hundreds on his first tours to Australia and England, something that that very few subcontinent players can manage (especially in England).

Your posts are getting ridiculous by the minute.

Awww you still ******** over the test captain thread it’s ok mate. Yes yasir shah has a hundred in Australia too. His hundred came against Australia when they were already in a commanding position in the test match. The one against England was a dead rubber as well. Everyone in India is against him and keeps questioning how he keeps getting selected his batting is another thing he can’t even stop a ball to save his life behind the stumps. Anyways your love for indian players is admirable I must say but even most Indians know how ordinary he’s been in Odis and tests overall. Infact he’s not even playing tests anymore cause he can’t keep so clearly the team management doesn’t want him in the side but here you are showing your love for a highly overrated batsman

 

[Mean&Green]

they can only win at home. That's about it. jhye perennially injured. zampa lol. c'mon bro. Don't judge teams by their t20 bilaterals.

I like to see them cry again when they get thrashed in the semis lol.

Hope it's india v pakistam final.

what do you reckon about south Africa's chances? steyn playing ?

No chance what so ever steyn is finished tbh he was never really a gun LOI bowler as we’ll. I’m amazed he’s still gonna continue though one thing he hasn’t lost his pace but he is no demon anymore the one he used to be. People in Australia are even calling for rauf to replace steyn cause they rather watch rauf play cause he’s doing way better now for the stars.

 

[Mamoon]

Awww you still ******** over the test captain thread it’s ok mate. Yes yasir shah has a hundred in Australia too. His hundred came against Australia when they were already in a commanding position in the test match. The one against England was a dead rubber as well. Everyone in India is against him and keeps questioning how he keeps getting selected his batting is another thing he can’t even stop a ball to save his life behind the stumps. Anyways your love for indian players is admirable I must say but even most Indians know how ordinary he’s been in Odis and tests overall. Infact he’s not even playing tests anymore cause he can’t keep so clearly the team management doesn’t want him in the side but here you are showing your love for a highly overrated batsman

Indian batting standards are not comparable to ours. It is obvious that their fans have very high standards. In India, unless a Test batsman averages 50, his place is not secure.

Pant would be a superstar for Pakistan already with a Test average of 45 and hundreds in Australia and England.

Yasir scored a hundred in Australia but he is a bowler who has failed with the bat throughout his career. It is like saying that we should not rate Babar’s hundred in Australia because Yasir also scored one. Again, do you even listen to yourself?

Someone like Rohit could barely keep his place in the Test team for years in spite of averaging 39, and Karun Nair has been dropped after scoring a 300 in his second Test match.

Pant is an outstanding young talent but there is very little room for failure when you are an Indian batsman.

Kohli and the selectors value him greatly and they will persist with him and he will eventually be a massive player, just like how they persisted with Rohit from 2007 to 2012.

Indian selectors have a great eye for batting talent and they don’t back players unless they see something special in them.

Moreover, why would I be upset over that captaincy of the decade debate? I nuked your argument after your attempt to copy paste the definition of “decade” backfired, since you didn’t realize that Cook captained for a shorter duration than Kohli in the 2010-2020 decade.

Once you got educated, you decide to back-track to change your argument but then it was too late. You should actually be thanking me for educating you. It is not a competition after all, and free information should be respected.

Pant was dropped for Saha in the home series because his keeping is not better than Saha’s who is brilliant with the gloves. By far the best pure WK in the world.

Once India’s overseas cycle resumes, Pant will be back in the team because India needs their WK to be prolific with the bat overseas.

 

[Mean&Green]

Indian batting standards are not comparable to ours. It is obvious that their fans have very high standards. In India, unless a Test batsman averages 50, his place is not secure.

Pant would be a superstar for Pakistan already with a Test average of 45 and hundreds in Australia and England.

Yasir scored a hundred in Australia but he is a bowler who has failed with the bat throughout his career. It is like saying that we should not rate Babar’s hundred in Australia because Yasir also scored one. Again, do you even listen to yourself?

Someone like Rohit could barely keep his place in the Test team for years in spite of averaging 39, and Karun Nair has been dropped after scoring a 300 in his second Test match.

Pant is an outstanding young talent but there is very little room for failure when you are an Indian batsman.

Kohli and the selectors value him greatly and they will persist with him and he will eventually be a massive player, just like how they persisted with Rohit from 2007 to 2012.

Indian selectors have a great eye for batting talent and they don’t back players unless they see something special in them.

Moreover, why would I be upset over that captaincy of the decade debate? I nuked your argument after your attempt to copy paste the definition of “decade” backfired, since you didn’t realize that Cook captained for a shorter duration than Kohli in the 2010-2020 decade.

Once you got educated, you decide to back-track to change your argument but then it was too late. You should actually be thanking me for educating you. It is not a competition after all, and free information should be respected.

Pant was dropped for Saha in the home series because his keeping is not better than Saha’s who is brilliant with the gloves. By far the best pure WK in the world.

Once India’s overseas cycle resumes, Pant will be back in the team because India needs their WK to be prolific with the bat overseas.

Nuked my argument you couldn’t even prove a thing. Educate me more with your worthless essays. There’s guys like Shreyas Iyer and samson who Were not given many chances despite averaging quite high. India’s selection policy lol they mk prasad gets moosed all the time. Indians hate their selectors and bcci was a messed up body until ganguly just took over. What copy paste are you talking about I had to show you the definition of a decade because you were to illiterate to understand after me repeatedly telling you how many years a decade consists of. Anyways we’ll see how pant does in the next odi series I’m here and you are too. The guy is an absolute hack who will come off once in 6 innings which is ok to have in t20s.