SL v IND, One-off T20 Preview: Final shot at redemption for Sri Lanka; India aim a complete whitewash

Nothing much can be expected from the Lankans in the T20s, but a run fest is definitely on cards considering the previous to ODIs at the same venue panned out.

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Virat Kohli India
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Team India (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)

After crucifying their opponents in every department, India will lock horns with Sri Lanka for one final time in a T20 encounter at Colombo. A series which not many expected to be highly competent, didn’t disappoint the rational expectations and turned out to be a one sided combat with few flashes of brilliance from the home side.

The Lankan side faltered in every department, from failing to score big to restricting the Indian batters, nothing went right for them. To add insult to injury, the fielders failed to compliment the bowlers on those rare occasions when they were good and inevitably, they got whitewashed in both Tests and ODIs.

Indian contingent were absolutely comprehensive with their approach, giving away nothing to the hosts. They seemed invincible at times and its tough to spot one wrong decision taken by the Indian skipper Virat Kohli which resulted in a defeat for the Indians. Nothing much can be expected from the Lankans in the T20s, but a run fest is definitely on cards considering the previous to ODIs at the same venue panned out.

Probable XI

Sri Lanka

Upul Tharanga (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Dilshan Munaweera, Angelo Mathews, Milinda Siriwardana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay,Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga.

India

Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni,Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah.

Focus will be on

Rohit Sharma

From the time Rohit Sharma turned an opener, his life changed completely and he is now rated as one of the finest openers around. The hitman has managed to register two hundreds in the ODI series and he will look to end this tour on a positive note, before they combat with Australia. He is one of the three Indian cricketers who managed to score a hundred in all three formats and he has a great opportunity to add another ton to his impressive tally.

Lasith Malinga

The highest wicket taker in IPL history, Lasith Malinga can still be a force to reckon with in the shorrtest format. Considering a fact that his form has dipped quite drastically in ODIs, there are speculations regarding his future in the game. Yet, he has to bowl just four overs and to expect four decent overs from a legend his caliber on any day wouldn’t be exaggeration. He won many matches for clubs and his country previously and the Lankan fans will have something to cheer about if he can do it one final time.

Playing combinations

Sri Lanka

Its always tough to predict the combinations of a side that has been going through a rough patch. But most certainly, Niroshan Dickwella will open the batting alongside Dilshan Munaweera with Tharanga and Mathews taking the third and fourth spots. They have some powerful strikers in Siriwardana and Perera in the lower middle, which can help them finish their innings on a positive note.

Lasith Malinga will be the key for their unit with experience of Suranga Lakmal will also be handy. It will interesting to see how Jeffrey Vandersay will justify the faith that the selectors showed him. Akila Dananjaya, Hasaranga and Siriwardana will be the spinning options for Tharanga.

India

It’ll be interesting to see if  KL Rahul will open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma, but Rahane seems to be the favorite. If that happens, Rahul drops to number 4 or five and skipper Kohli’s number 3 position won’t change. MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav make up for a fantastic middle-order which can provide a breathtaking finish.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah’s prowess of bowling in the shortest format needs no specific introduction. They’ve been outstanding for both country and IPL clubs and it will be very hard for the Lankan batters to see off their 8 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel will add variety to the contingent and Pandya will be the fifth bowling option for Kohli.

StatAttack

8 – India and Sri Lanka will lock horns in a T20 game at Colombo after 8 years

185 – Virat Kohli scored 185 runs in the five games that he played at RPS. He is also the fourth highest run scorer in T20s in that stadium.

14- Malinga has taken 14 wickets at this venue in T20s, making him the highest wicket taker in RPS in the shortest format.

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