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Sri Lanka are set to tour India for three T20 internationals followed by two Tests. The tour will kick start on February 24, with the first T20I taking place at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Both the teams have completed their previous assignments on Sunday and will straightaway move into another bio bubble for this series.
After a disastrous tour of South Africa, India have found things pretty easy at home in limited overs series against the West Indies. They first defeated the men in maroon by 3-0 in the fifty-over format and then went on to complete a clean sweep in the T20I leg as well.
India won the first T20I match by six wickets, chasing down 158 in 18.5 overs. In the second match, they posted 186/5 on the back of Rishabh Pant’s excellent fifty and successfully defended the target by 8 runs. The third T20I saw Suryakumar Yadav produce a special knock to take India to a total of 184/5. The hosts defended the score again by 17 runs with some terrific death overs bowling from Harshal Patel.
Sri Lanka toured Australia in their most recent assignment for a five-match T20I series. Things didn’t go well for them as they lost three of the first four matches outright and another in a super over. They claimed a consolation win in the fifth match. The likes of Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera bowled well to restrict the Aussies to 154/6. Chasing the target, Kusal Mendis dropped anchor with a 69* while Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka played valuable cameos to take the team over the line on penultimate ball.
India had toured Sri Lanka in July 2021 with their second-string side, where they lost the three-match T20I series by 2-1. The upcoming series offers both the sides another opportunity to try out their players keeping the T20 World Cup in mind.
Key players
Suryakumar Yadav’s ability against spin and working angles against pace makes him a hard batter to deal with. SKY has had a great start to his international T20 career, scoring 351 runs from 12 innings at an average of 39 while striking at 166. His overall T20 numbers are also impressive with over 4200 runs at 31 average and 142 strike rate. The 31yr old scored 34* off 18 and 65 off 31 in two of the three innings against the Windies.
Jasprit Bumrah has 66 wickets to his name from 55 T20 internationals at an outstanding economy of 6.52. Bumrah’s overall T20 numbers read 237 wickets at 7.01 rpo with best figures of 4 for 11. One of the best bowlers going in the T20 format, the 28-year-old is coming back from ample rest and will be eager to hit the ground running.
Wanindu Hasaranga is among the most skilful spinners in limited overs cricket. The leg-spinner has 57 wickets from 35 international T20s at an exceptional average of 13.75 and economy of 6.39. Hasaranga also has a good game against spin and can make an impact as a floater. The last time Sri Lanka faced India, Hasaranga produced a ‘player of the series’ performance, picking 7 wickets from three games including career-best 4/9.
Harshal Patel has shown immense improvement in his craft, becoming a very reliable death overs specialist. His clever variations and the dip makes him a potent threat at the back end when the batters are looking for big hits. Harshal has 147 wickets in T20 cricket at an economy of 7.97 and has had a great start to T20I career, picking 9 scalps from five matches at 12.6 strike rate.
Prediction
As far as the head to head record between these two sides is concerned, India have dominated Sri Lanka with 14 wins to seven. They’re leading the scoreline by 3-2 in the last five meetings as well.
India will have their superstar bowler Jasprit Bumrah back for this series along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested from this series, with Sanju Samson getting called back.
Their batting unit, including Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer, looks pretty stacked despite the absence of KL Rahul, Kohli and Pant. Bumrah will lead the bowling attack comprising the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan and the spin trio.
Sri Lanka are likely to keep the same squad that faced Australia in the recent series. Wanindu Hasaranga, who had tested Covid-19 positive mid-series, should be recovered and raring to go. SL have several stable anchors, but their batting lacks real firepower apart from Charith Asalanka. The bowling department has looked impressive in recent times, with Chameera, Kumara, Theekshana developing well as a decent support cast to Hasaranga.
On paper, India are a much stronger side, especially with Bumrah’s return, and they should walk out with a victory in the first T20 international on Thursday.
