Team India will take on Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I at Mumbai in the 3-match T20I series.
IND vs SL 1st T20I: Match Preview:
Team India are set to start their home season with a 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. A new-look Indian team, void of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul has been named, which will take on a young Sri Lankan side.
Suryakumar Yadav was a stellar name in the T20Is in 2022, scoring 1,164 runs in 31 matches and becoming the #1 ranked T20I batter in the process. Hardik Pandya, who's the new Indian T20I captain, also scored 607 runs in 25 innings in 2022. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are also named in the squad in the absence of Rishabh Pant, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi would also look to leave their mark in the opportunities they get in this series.
A young bowling attack will take on Sri Lanka, with Arshdeep Singh leading the pace attack along with Harshal Patel. Speedster Umran Malik, and pacers Mukesh Kumar & Shivam Mavi will further constitute the pace department in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The spin department on the other hand will be led by Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel alongwith Washington Sundar.
For the visitors, opener Pathum Nissanka was the top scorer in 2022, scoring 713 runs in 24 T20I innings with 6 fifties to his name. Kusal Mendis scored 521 runs in 20 matches while striking at 132.23, captain Dasun Shanaka scored 497 runs in 24 T20I innings at a strike rate of 135.79. Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva will have to put their best show up front to support the top scorer in order to take on the home team.
Wanindu Hasaranga has been terrific with his spin bowling for Sri Lanka, picking up 34 wickets in just 19 matches in 2022. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana has also shouldered the Lankan bowling in the shortest format, picking up 22 wickets in 22 matches. Ashen Bandara, Dilshan Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage and Lahiru Kumara will take on the Indian batting challenge on the batting-friendly Indian pitches.
