New India aim to sustain T20 domination
INDIA’S IMPRESSIVE T20I RECORD
Shankar bowling his mediumpace to Rohit Sharma for 30 minutes.
The likes of Deepak Hooda, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant did not practice much, and that seemed to indicate that India could go in with a bowling line-up of Shankar, Axar and Sundar along with Shardul Thakur and Yuzvendra Chahal.
However, India’s key strength remains batting. Rohit, who had a poor T20 series against South Africa, will be eager to regain his scoring touch in flat conditions while Shikhar Dhawan will be aiming to maintain his great form.
Suresh Raina and Manish Pandey, who both chipped in with vital knocks in South Africa, will again be the key in the middle order.
PREMADASA RECORD
The R Premadasa stadium has not been a lucky ground for the hosts, who have lost 12 out of 14 games. Under new coach Chandika Hathurusingha, the team is slowly seeing a revival as evident by their wins in the recent series Team Sri Lanka P W 104 53 L 34 49 T 1 1 N/R 2 1 in Bangladesh.
With Angelo Mathews missing the tournament due to injury, the team will be led by Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal. Sri Lanka’s batting will rest on the skipper and Kusal Mendis, who scored two fifties in the win over Bangladesh recently. With the side consisting of several players who can contribute with bat and ball like Dasun Shanaka, Jeevan Mendis and the aggressive Thisara Perera, Sri Lanka will be hopeful they can snap their losing streak against India.
Bangladesh will have their task cut out, especially in the absence of the injured Shakib
Al Hasan. Success%