Preview: India (IND) will play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka (SL) starting July 27. For the Men in Blue, this series marks the start of a new era led by head coach Gautam Gambhir. The former opener will face a difficult assignment in living up to the lofty expectations established by his predecessors. The BCCI named Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain, with Shubman Gill serving as his deputy. India had just won a 4-1 T20I series against Zimbabwe under Gill’s leadership.
Sri Lanka’s players have just returned from the Lanka Premier League. The island nation has seen some leadership changes, with former opener Sanath Jayasuriya becoming interim head coach. Meanwhile, following the island nation’s terrible performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped aside from captaincy duties, and the board appointed Charith Asalanka.
India Tour of Sri Lanka, 2024, 1st T20 Match, IND vs SRI
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Date & Time: Saturday, July 27, 7:00 PM
Pitch Report: The pitch at Pallekele Stadium tends to favor batters because the ball goes more easily off the bat in the evening when the floodlights are on. But bowlers who can change up their pace get more and more efficient as the game goes on. At this venue, 170 runs is seen as a competitive total, hence teams batting first usually aim for that amount. Still, teams tend to prefer chasing in nighttime matches when there is dew present because it might make bowling more difficult later in the game.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (C), Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Binura Fernando.
India: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj.
