India tour of Sri Lanka (2021)

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COLOMBO: Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur on Saturday said his team is improving fast but needs to have depth in batting as they gear up for the Twenty20 series against India.

Sri Lanka lost the ODI series 1-2 to India but the win in the final ODI gave confidence to Arthur.

"We are creating depths across all the departments now. We just have to get that little bit of consistency and that same depth into our batting," Arthur said at a virtual pre-match press conference ahead of the first T20.

"For numerous reasons we never seem to put our best batting line up out there. It is being about creating depth for me, but also trying to be consistent. Giving guys clear roles but then allowing them to go out and playing with freedom. We saw a really good example of that in Charith (Asalanka) the other night," added the South African.

"The growth I have seen in these players has been fantastic and the growth comes from giving them confidence and giving them that consistency that they are going to play. We will see the rewards of that in the future for sure," the 53-year-old noted.

Arthur also said that the Sri Lankan team learned a "massive amount" from the ODI series against India.

"We are right at the embryonic stage of this journey and it is about us playing against ourselves every-day we go out on the ground. We have got benchmarks, which we want to meet in every game.

"We are measuring ourselves and the progression in terms of those KPIs has been outstanding. We are getting better and better," he added.

The head coach was also hopeful that young leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked three wickets in the second ODI against India, would be available for the first T20.

Stressing that Sri Lanka's white-ball cricket needed some reforms, Arthur also described the win against India on Sunday as a "great win".

"We were struggling, our white ball cricket was going nowhere. We were ranked eight or nine in the world and we needed some reforms and change with that.

"We needed to try and rebuild the team, we needed to look at a team we could take forward all the way to the 2023 World Cup and have a side ready at that point. And that is why we had that change, was to bring some young fresh faces in, see what they can do but also give them an opportunity to perform," he explained.

"And I think, we are getting there, we have got a long way to go. The win last night was great and we got very close the game before and that just shows continued improvement," he signed off.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sp...-batting-sayscoach-mickey-arthur-2334851.html

 

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India Predicted XI for 2nd T20I vs Sri Lanka: Question looms over Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav’s availability
Batsmen Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav will be leaving for England to join the Test squad. However, the BCCI is yet to give any official information about their departure.


Just like the ODIs, Shikhar Dhawan-led Team India began the T20I series with an emphatic win on Sunday. The visitors showcased a decent performance with the bat but their bowling was outstanding. The pacers led the attack and were brilliantly backed by the spinners. India’s 38-run win in the series opener was a perfect example of teamwork which they would definitely like to continue on Tuesday when they take on the hosts in the second match of the series at R Premadasa Stadium. As captain Shikhar Dhawan had already said the focus is on winning the series, the team management, in all likelihood, would like to carry on with the same combination.

Here’s our India predicted XI for the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka on Tuesday in Colombo:

Prithvi Shaw: The dynamic opener was unfortunate to grab a golden duck in his debut game. But the calibre he had shown in the ODI series will surely earn him a second chance until there’s a last moment development. Prithvi and Suryakumar Yadav will be leaving for England to join the Test squad. However, the BCCI is yet to give any official information about their departure. Until then, he remains the opener for the 2nd T20I.

Shikhar Dhawan: This series is the only chance for Dhawan to strengthen his case for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He may have missed his fifty on Sunday by a whisker, but he looked in great touch and would be raring to go again.

Sanju Samson: Samson’s innings took off well but unlike his IPL knocks, he failed to convert the start. If he could improve that bit of his batting, Sri Lankan bowlers will surely have a tough day.

Suryakumar Yadav: The top-scorer of the previous encounter remains in the XI unless, just like Prithvi’s case, there are some last-minute developments. Suryakumar is currently in a rich vein of form and won’t let go any opportunity falling on his way.

Ishan Kishan: The pocket-sized dynamo is in top form and his capability to bat in death overs is astonishing. Ishan acts as the catalyst in the batting line-up who can amplify India’s scoring rate at any moment. He would find himself in the XI for sure.

Hardik Pandya: Pandya’s case is a bit critical but he’s the only fast-bowling all-rounder India have in the tour. With the bat, he hasn’t done anything special so far. However, he has been chipping in with the ball and helping the team with a wicket or two at crunch moments. If he can return to form on Tuesday, watching him bat and hitting those gigantic sixes would be a delight to the eyes.

Krunal Pandya: Krunal is the man who can adjust to any situation and give you desired results. Be it controlling the innings with the bat in the lower order or putting a check on the opposition’s scoring rate while bowling, this man can do it all.

Deepak Chahar: Chahar has been a very good bowler in the shortest format and recently, he also exhibited what he can do with the bat. We can call him an all-rounder in making who doesn’t feel shy in capitalising on the chances he is getting in his career right now. He is one of the wicket-taking bowlers in the Indian camp and if he gets some runs on the board, nothing will be as better as that.

Varun Chakravarthy: The mystery spinner made his debut on Sunday and returned with a wicket under his belt. He was a bit expensive the other day but everyone knows what he is capable of. If he finds his rhythm, he won’t take much time in tearing the opposition batting apart.

Yuzvendra Chahal: The breakthrough man of Team India, Chahal would get another game this series. He was the most economic bowler in the first face-off and he has all the tricks in his bag to help India capture the series 2-0 on Tuesday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The vice-captain of this team was on fire on Sunday as he picked up a 4-wicket haul to be adjudged the player of the game. He would look forward to producing another super spell and will lead the bowling attack.

India’s Predicted XI for 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka:

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-predicted-xi-for-2nd-t20i-vs-sri-lanka-question-looms-over-prithvi-shaw-suryakumar-yadav-s-availability-101627294811914.html

 

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The Shikhar Dhawan-led Team India recently returned home from Sri Lanka after the six-match white-ball series against the hosts. Since India's majority of first-choice players are in England for five-match Test series against the hosts, the selectors named a second-string squad.

There were as my as 6 new faces in the team and each of them played in the series. It was India's final series before the all-important T20 World Cup and the fixtures probably didn't fulfill the purpose as 9 players were ruled out of the final two T20Is after coming in Krunal Pandya's contact. The all-rounder had tested positive for the infection before the 2nd T20I. But for Sri Lanka, it turned to be a 100 crore bonanza.

Speaking to ft.lk.com, Sri Lanka Cricket's Secretary Mohan de Silva revealed that the board made $14.5 million (more than Rs 107 crore) by hosting Team India. As per de Silva, SLC's president persuaded the BCCI to play an additional 3 T20Is, which resulted in the board making more financial gains.

“According to the FTP (Future Tours Program) the tour was only for 3 ODIs, but our President Shammi Silva managed to persuade the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to give us an additional 3 T20Is which resulted in the enhancement of the commercial value. It was made possible because of the relationship we have cultivated with the Indian Cricket Board. We got $ 14.5 million from broadcasting and other rights like ground, etc.,” de Silva told the Daily FT.

“The fact that the BCCI and the Indian Government gave the blessings for their team to come to Sri Lanka during the pandemic times and meet their commitments was also due to the cordial relationships we have with the BCCI."

The BCCI and SLC share a good bond and the two teams have played in a staggering 162 ODIs against each other. Not just SLC, the BCCI had also helped Cricket Australia by touring the country for a full-fledged series in 2020/21.

“It’s indeed a feather in the cap. It’s a statement on part of the BCCI that it is willing to stand by its commitments at all costs. It’s a sign of great reassurance for the industry at large. Boards were staring at huge losses because of the pandemic. CA would’ve been forced into bankruptcy. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was on the verge of a disaster. The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has earned close to Rs 150 cr because of the IPL. The ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) appreciates India’s concern too,” a source was quoted saying by Times of India recently.

India had kicked off the SL tour with back-to-back wins in ODIs. They lost the 3rd game, where five players played their maiden ODI. The Men in Blue had kicked off the T20I series with a win in the opening T20I. Though they lost the next two ties as they were without the services of 9 first-choice players.

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...taggering-amount-by-hosting-team-india/798141