×

India vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 1st T20I at Pune: Likely XI for the hosts

MS Dhoni and his troops will be high on confidence after a brilliant show in their previous series against Australia.

Related articles

India will look to start off well in the series before making any experimental changes © Getty Images
India will look to start off well in the series before making any experimental changes © Getty Images

After whitewashing the mighty Australia in their own backyard by a thumping  0-3 margin, India now have their eyes set on defeating Sri Lanka in the three-match Twenty20 (T20) series starting on Tuesday, February 9. India will take on the Lankan lions in the first T20I of the series at Pune, with second and third matches taking place at Ranchi and Visakhapatnam respectively. MS Dhoni and his troops will be high on confidence after a brilliant show in the last series, and with the Asia Cup 2016 and the ICC World Twenty20 (T20) 2016 impending, it becomes a significant series. With a minor alterations in the squad, Vishal Mehra takes a look at the most likely XI India will field. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 1st T20I at Pune

Top Order: With much impressive performance in the last series together, the pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma is set to enthrall once again with their mesmerising batting. Rohit has been in the best of forms a batsman can go through, making 143 runs in the T20 series at an average of 47.66 most importantly amassing 584 runs while belittling any bowler in his way. Dhawan, on the other hand, was the accelerator in the final T20I, which again is a good sign. With the world No. 1 batsman Virat Kohli, rested it will be a toss up between Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey for the coveted No. 3 spot. Rahane, who missed out on the series due to an injury, will look to get in match-practice before the Asia Cup 2016 in Bangladesh. If given a look, Pandey will want to make the best out of the chance, after his non-inclusion from the side for the Asia Cup 2016 and ICC World T20 2016.

Middle Order: With Suresh Raina back in his scintillating display against Australia in the final T20, making 50 from 49 balls, including the winning run will cherish his No. 4 position. Against Sri Lanka, Raina has a better average (40.50) than his career average of 33.53, and will only look to make merry. The poster boy of Indian cricket Yuvraj Singh looking in ominous touch, it holds good for the team heading into the series. Yuvraj’s massive six off Andrew Tye in the final overs only proves his ability to win matches has not diminished one bit. Remember, Yuvraj is also no mug with the ball, only comes in doubly handy. Coming in next will be MS Dhoni; he did not have that good an act in the series but surely managed to show sparks of the belligerent batsman we know of.

All-rounder: A lot will rely on the performances of Hardik Pandya, who keeps his place in the side after a decent demonstration of his skills (only bowling though). Pandya picked up a total of three wickets against Australia, will look to do more with the bat this time around. Coming in next will be the newly-engaged Ravindra Jadeja, who in Indian conditions becomes one of the most unplayable bowlers any batsmen could face. Jadeja strangulating Australia batting line-up was a sheer delight; given the fact he was hammered in the One-Day International series (ODIs).

Bowling: Much will depend on India premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been most prolific wicket-taker in recent time. Ashwin, against South Africa at home, had a miserly economy of 6.00 (average rate). The find of the series against Australia was Jasprit Bumrah, highest wicket-taker in the series (6 wickets from 3 matches). What stood out for Bumrah was his sharp bowling in the death overs. Having been chosen in the squad for Asia Cup 2016 and ICC World T20 2016 it will provide much needed international match practice for the youngster. The final piece in the puzzle will be tried and tested war-horse Ashish Nehra, who would surely feel like second wind within his body and look to recall his early days. Nehra did not look one bit on the older side (literally), bowling at well near 135 km/h on an average.

With all said and done, this series will prove to be a start for a long road ahead, hoping to only end at the iconic Eden Garden in Kolkata for the final of the ICC World T20 2016. Some familiar faces will rise again from the ashes, while newer idols will be unearthed in this series as we embrace another exciting and thought provoking competition between India and Sri Lanka.

India’s likely XI for 1st ODI (in batting order): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane/ Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh,  MS Dhoni(c&wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah

(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @vishal_oxyjinn)

trending this week