Sri Lanka vs India, 1st T20I: Stats Preview of Players' Records and Approaching Milestones

Both Sri Lanka and India will usher in a new age for their respective T20I sides when they take on each other in the first T20I in Pallekele on Saturday, July 27. 

India came back from a 0-1 deficit to win 4-1 against Zimbabwe in their most recent T20I series. And before that, became the only team to win a T20 World Cup unbeaten in the competition. While India still reel from the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in T20Is, this series will mark the first assignment for new Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir had been the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders team that won the IPL in 2024. Unlike in the series against Zimbabwe, India have selected a nearly full strength squad for this series that will be led by Suryakumar Yadav who has previously led India in just 7 T20Is. 

Sri Lanka crashed out of the T20 World Cup in the first round, but their players have been plying their trade in the LPL recently so they aren't short on match time in the shortest format either. Following the disastrous T20 World Cup, Wanindu Hasaranga quit as Sri Lanka's T20I captain having taken up the job just six months prior. Designated vice-captain Charith Asalanka has now taken over as captain. Asalanka will also be jubilant about his new responsibilities having led Jaffna Kings to the title in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League in 2024.

Asalanka had also taken over the duties for the national team in an interim capacity when Hasaranga had been suspended for two matches earlier this year. Under Asalanka, Sri Lanka won and lost one match each in the series against Bangladesh but hung on to win the series in the third match as Hasaranga returned. 

Also Check: Who will win today’s 1st T20I match between SL vs IND?

As both teams try to usher in a new leadership era, here is a look at some of the upcoming milestones for players from both teams:

44 - Dasun Shanaka needs 44 runs to reach 1500 runs in T20Is.

8 - Hardik Pandya needs 8 runs to score 1500 runs in T20Is.

10 - Dinesh Chandimal needs 10 fours to reach 100 fours in T20Is.

5 - Maheesh Theekshana needs 5 wickets to reach 50 wickets in T20Is.

29 - Rishabh Pant needs 29 runs to reach 5000 runs in T20s.

54 - Dinesh Chandimal needs 54 runs to reach 5000 runs in T20s.

8 - Kusal Perera needs 8 runs to reach 4000 runs in T20s.

30 - Charith Asalanka needs 30 runs to reach 2500 runs in T20s.