India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: India Predicted XI

After absolutely decimating Sri Lanka in the first two games, India would want to be ruthless and hand the visitors similar sort of treatment in the final game of the series as well which will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

This is also an opportunity for the Indian management to give a break to some of the first choices players especially in the bowling department and try out a few young guns in the squad as this game is a dead rubber and is not going to have any influence on the outcome of the series. A couple of T20I caps may be handed and those who get opportunities will have to make it count straightaway to remain in contention for the future as well. Here is India’s predicted XI for tomorrow’s game:

Openers (Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul)

Rohit Sharma has been batting at a different level in white ball cricket this year. He has made a mark in each and every series he has played and has looked untroubled against both pace and spin bowling. Once he is on a roll, the bowlers just don’t seem to have any idea how to get him out. It won’t be a surprise if he helps himself to another big one tomorrow.

KL Rahul has been instrumental as well at the top of the order in this series as he has registered a couple of fifties to his name. While Rohit stole all the limelight at the Holkar Stadium the other night, Rahul’s strokeplay was simply breathtaking as he entertained the crowd with some wristy flicks and bottom-handed jabs which landed into the stands. He would be aiming to stitch a solid partnership with Rohit once again and lay a platform for the middle order.

Middle-order (Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik)

While Iyer has been given the no. 3 slot in the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit has been very clear about the batting position of MS Dhoni. The skipper wants the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman to bat up the order and the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey to take up the responsibility of finishing the innings. That move has clearly paid dividends as Dhoni has hit the ball crisply in both the games and has looked more comfortable playing himself in the innings rather than forcing and hurrying himself which he has had to do coming in at 6 for so many years.

All-rounders (Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar)

While Hardik Pandya hasn’t had too much to do with the bat in the series so far, he has been pretty good with the ball. He finished with a 3-fer in Cuttack, while in Indore he went at a rate of roundabout 7 runs per over which on that track was an outstanding economy rate. The Indian team management would want him to continue his good work with the ball and if the need arises, tonk a few with the bat as well.

Washington Sundar has already made his debut in the ODIs, but he is yet to earn his first cap in the T20 Internationals. The selectors have identified him as a long-term option in limited-overs cricket and in all probability he will get a go tomorrow.

Bowlers (Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Basil Thampi)

Kuldeep was very expensive in his first 3 overs in Indore, but the way he came back in the 4th and changed the game by removing three Sri Lankan batsmen spoke volumes of his temperament. Despite going for so many sixes, he had the courage to toss the ball up and the 23-year-old eventually succeeded in luring the batsmen into false strokes. He will hold the key for India again on the flat Wankhede deck.

Unadkat has made his comeback into the Indian team after a long time, but he has straightaway hit his straps as he bowled with excellent control and has managed to provide India early breakthroughs. He will have a new partner with the new ball in the form of Basil Thampi who with his slingy action can be very difficult to pick for the batsmen. Thampi, apart from being a handy option upfront, is a good death bowler as well and is known for nailing yorkers at will.