Guwahati | Jagran Sports Desk: The Indian cricket team will face Sri Lanka in the first T20 International at Assam’s Guwahati and all eyes would be comeback man Japrit Bumrah. The 26-year-old was out for four months from international cricket due to a back stress fracture.
The year 2019 was all about focussing on the 50-over format but in 2020 the focus would be completely on the T20 World Cup in Australia and the Men in Blue would look to prepare a core team before their World Cup campaign begins against South Africa in Perth in October.
There are slots to be locked and till Indian Premier League ends, a clearer picture is unlikely to emerge but the Indian team would be checking out how the likes Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur react to pressure situations in death overs alongside Bumrah.
The Indian team would also look to test Washington Sundar and big hitting all-rounder Shivam Dube. And that lingering question on Rishabh Pant's consistency with Sanju Samson having already warmed the benches for six straight T20 games and the invisible presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, making things a little unsettling.
Meanwhile, the focus would also be on Shikhar Dhawan who is making a comeback in international cricket. He will also look to make an impact in absence of rested vice-captain Rohit Sharma with KL Rahul in red-hot form at the other end.
In their last T20I series, Sri Lanka suffered a 0-3 rout in Australia as their batsmen struggled and will be under scrutiny.
The relied heavily on Kusal Perera, who was their leading run-getter with 100 runs from three matches in Australia in October-November.
They would also look forward to the return of former Sri Lankan captain, Angelo Mathews, who last played a T20I against South Africa in August 2018.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando and Danushka Gunathilaka were their batting mainstays in their 3-0 win in Pakistan in October as they will look forward to return among runs.
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga led the bowling in Pakistan with eight wickets from three matches at an average of 9.87 but was ineffective in Australia as he will also look to contribute.
India lost their only T20 match against Australia on October 10, 2017, which was further marred by stone-pelting on the team bus on post-match return to hotel.
It's time for Kohli's men to rewrite their poor record here.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini and Washington Sundar.
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kusal Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan and Kasun Rajitha.
Match starts: 7pm
(With PTI inputs)
Posted By: Aalok Sensharma
