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India vs Sri Lanka, 2015-16, 3rd T20I at Visakhapatnam: Likely XI for Team India

After losing the opening T20I to Sri Lanka, India came back with a 69-run win in the second T20I at Ranchi. Here is a speculative look at their possible playing XI for the third T20I.

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The final T20I between India and Sri Lanka is the series decider  © AFP
The final T20I between India and Sri Lanka is the series decider © AFP

India came back strong in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) against Sri Lanka at Ranchi on Friday, registering a 69-run win courtesy of an all-round performance. By winning the second match, India has opened up the three-match series, and now the final T20I at Vishkapatnam is set to be the series decider. MS Dhoni and his boys, who lost the top rank in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20I rankings following the defeat in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, showed character and did full justice to their potential as they dominated the inexperienced Lankan side in all departments. It will not be wrong to assume the skipper will want to carry the same playing XI for the third T20I, which is scheduled to be played on Sunday. FULL SCORECARD: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I at Visakhapatnam

Top Order: Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were given a reality check in the first match as both men were dismissed for single-digit scores. They will remain India’s openers for the final match. Rohit and Dhawan gave a flying start to India in their first innings with their partnership worth 75 runs in just seven overs. While Dhawan managed to bring up a superb maiden T20I fifty, Rohit was sent back to the pavilion for 36-ball 43. Ajinkya Rahane, whose position in the playing XI in India’s T20I side is doubtful of late with young Manish Pandey performing well, will still be chosen ahead of Pandey. Rahane did not last long but his innings of 25 runs off 21 balls was crucial in India’s total of 196 in 20 overs. READ: Shikhar Dhawan finally finds his groove in T20Is

Middle Order: India has a decent middle order, and it looks like it is improving with every outing. It just got better in the previous match when young Hardik Pandya was sent ahead of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni in the crucial slog overs. India surely needs a youngster to step up and take the responsibility off Dhoni’s shoulders and Pandya’s knock of 27 runs in 12 balls exhibited that he could be one of the choices to become India’s regular face in the lower-middle-order. With the likes of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh in the side, experience is not an issue for India. READ: Hardik Pandya needs to grab the opportunity to stop Pawan Negi from replacing him

Lower Order: The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah once again showed a collective effort to restrict Sri Lanka, who eventually fell short by 69 runs at Ranchi. Ashwin, who is known for both his batting and bowling skills, definitely is the key member of India’s lower order and if needed he will want to repeat his all-round performance in Sunday’s match to ensure India seal the series. Meanwhile, veteran Nehra also added another two wickets to his name. READ: Jasprit Bumrah’s immense maturity deserves every laud it gets

Meanwhile, the young Bumrah stuck to his basics, and picked up two wickets towards the end. With the ICC World T20 and Asia Cup 2016 lined up next, it is very important for India to win the series against Sri Lanka to ensure they do not lose their winning momentum. It is difficult to get back to winning ways, especially  after a home defeat.

India’s likely XI for 3rd T20I (in batting order): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh,  MS Dhoni (c&wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah.

(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)

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