- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,574
Just four days ago, India and Sri Lanka going into a T20I series in a 50-over World Cup year seemed futile from a sporting perspective. But after two closely fought contests put the series on an even keel, Saturday's finale could yet serve as an interesting precursor for the ODIs to follow.
On paper, Hardik Pandya's India don't boast of too much T20I experience. It's a young squad, but with players who've repeatedly 'been there, done that' in the high-pressure situations in the IPL. That came through in both the fixtures where they displayed their resolve till the very end to first eke out a win in Mumbai and then miss out narrowly in Pune.
Sri Lanka too have brought a lot of feistiness to the series that was on abundant display during their title run in this year's Asia Cup. Dasun Shanaka has helmed the side admirably, shrugging off the disappointment of a forgettable World Cup campaign to improve the team's white-ball stocks. Expect another game of small margins at the weekend.
When: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I, January 6, 07:00 PM IST
Where: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
What to expect: Rajkot has always been about big runs across formats. In the four T20Is played there, two wins have come while batting first, the other two while bowling first.
Team News:
India
The hosts have a decision to make in the pace department between two misfiring quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, after India's death bowling suffered in the second T20I.
Probable XI: Ishan Kishan (w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka
Dasun Shanaka, riding high on his match-winning effort, should retain the same XI that earned him series parity.
Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
Squads:
India Squad: Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harshal Patel
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Nuwan Thushara, Sadeera Samarawickrama
On paper, Hardik Pandya's India don't boast of too much T20I experience. It's a young squad, but with players who've repeatedly 'been there, done that' in the high-pressure situations in the IPL. That came through in both the fixtures where they displayed their resolve till the very end to first eke out a win in Mumbai and then miss out narrowly in Pune.
Sri Lanka too have brought a lot of feistiness to the series that was on abundant display during their title run in this year's Asia Cup. Dasun Shanaka has helmed the side admirably, shrugging off the disappointment of a forgettable World Cup campaign to improve the team's white-ball stocks. Expect another game of small margins at the weekend.
When: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I, January 6, 07:00 PM IST
Where: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
What to expect: Rajkot has always been about big runs across formats. In the four T20Is played there, two wins have come while batting first, the other two while bowling first.
Team News:
India
The hosts have a decision to make in the pace department between two misfiring quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, after India's death bowling suffered in the second T20I.
Probable XI: Ishan Kishan (w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka
Dasun Shanaka, riding high on his match-winning effort, should retain the same XI that earned him series parity.
Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
Squads:
India Squad: Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harshal Patel
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Nuwan Thushara, Sadeera Samarawickrama
