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India vs Sri Lanka 2016: Visitors’ Likely XI for 1st T20I at Pune

Sri Lanka will have to choose wisely in a bid to outplay the dominant hosts.

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Sri Lanka's team will feature a curious mix of experience, newcomers and established youngsters © Getty Images (File Photo)
Sri Lanka’s team will feature a curious mix of experience, newcomers and established youngsters © Getty Images (File Photo)

Sri Lanka will face off against hosts India in the first Twenty20 International at Pune. The serving as a dress rehearsal for the approaching ICC World T20 2016 Sri Lanka will want to field their best side to get themselves primed. Sri Lanka’s 16-man squad is a curious mix of stalwarts, newcomers, flamboyant youngsters and the odd throwback player in keeping with the trend of other teams across the world. Sri Lanka’s XI for the first game is a cause for great curiosity, Rishad D’Souza attempts to name the team the visitors are likely to play for the series-opener. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 1st T20I at Pune

Top Order: Sri Lanka’s top order has had it’s fair share of problems of late. There have been glimpses of promise from this area but nothing substantial.  Youngster Danushka Ganuthilaka has played just two T20Is so far in the recent series against New Zealand. In the first game he scored a fighting 29-ball 46 but failed in the second match. Yet, he has shown ability to soak in pressure and play his natural game. He is likely to find a place in the side at least for the opener. ALSO READ: India vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 1st T20I at Pune: Likely XI for the hosts

Tillakaratne Dilshan will definitely find a spot in the team. He has been a vital cog in the Sri Lanka setup for long and the catching up of age has not hindered his proficiency at top of the order. He man not have had an ideal tour in New Zealand but he is certain to perform in the comfort of more familiar conditions.  The No. 3 is a matter of major worry for Sri Lanka. No one has filled in adequately in that spot since the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Sri Lanka will consider giving Niroshan Dickwella a go in the crucial position.

Middle Order: Dinesh Chandimal might have an atrocious T20I record but he remains a player of great value which is only highlighted by the fact that he is stand-in skipper. Sri Lanka would not want to drop a player who is shaping up as one of the pillars of the present generation of the national side. He is capable of big blows but can also play a reliable innings. He could be given a shot at No. 4.

Thisara Perera also slots in well in the middle order. He boasts of an incredible reputation in T20 as an all-rounder and given his penchant for lusty blows to progress an innings he might find a spot at No. 5. The  other middle-order batsman could be all-rounder Dasun Shanaka. He did not manage to play to his potential in the one T20I he played but he could be given another go. His ability to role his arm over bodes well for him.

Lower Order and bowling: Milinda Siriwardana has a fine T20 record. In the nascence of his international career, he is yet to make a similar impact but Sri Lanka are likely to give him a go. He has equally impressive credentials with ball and bat. The ability to hit a long ball is his forte along with his effective slow left-arm orthodox bowling.

Seekkuge Prasanna, the leg break bowling all rounder, is capable of a long hit. This will also provide Sri Lanka a long, explosive batting line up. He has an incredible strike-rate and although his average doesn’t suggest reliability, at No. 8 that shouldn’t be an issue.

The mainline bowling attack could comprise of Dushmantha Chameera, Sachithra Senanayake, Kasun Rajitha.  Chameera has shown the traits he possesses, raw pace, unsettling bounce but unsteady accuracy. Yet, Sri Lanka are likely to go ahead with him especially with the ruling out of Binura Fernando with injury. Senanayake has an impressive T20 record and has the backing of experience. With his off spin he is able to strangulate the life out of oppositions on assistive surfaces.

Rajitha is a name unknown to most of the world but locally he’s been doing enough to take the insiders by delight. The right arm fast bowler is capable of hitting the right lines and lengths with nagging patience and brags a haul of 31 wickets from just 15 domestic T20 games. He is an intriguing prospect and may make his debut.

Sri Lanka likely XI for 1st T20I: Danushka Ganuthilaka, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachithra Senanayake, Kasun Rajitha

(Rishad D’Souza, a reporter with CricketCountry, gave up hopes of playing Test cricket after a poor gully-cricket career. He now reports on the sport. You can follow @RDcric on Twitter)

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