Sri Lanka playing XI for first T20I against West Indies announced, Bhanuka Rajapaksa returns

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team have announced the playing XI for the first game of the three-match T20I series against the West Indies National Cricket Team. The game will be played on Sunday (13th October) at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla.

Pathum Nissanka will be opening the innings along with Kusal Mendis. The duo has been the major reason behind the success of the team in the format. They have been in decent touch of late and would be keen to carry on the golden form in the first game of the series against West Indies.

Kusal Perera will be batting at No.3 in the first T20I against West Indies. He has been batting aggressively but hasn't been able to register a big score for the team. The Southpaw would be keen to make an impact and get some runs under his belt in all three games of the series.

Kamindu Mendis, who is going through the purple patch in his career, has been allotted the No.4 spot. He, along with skipper Charith Asalanka and returning Bhanuka Rajapaksa, will be handling the middle order for the team in the first T20I against the West Indies National Cricket Team.

They have named two spinners in the playing XI for the first T20I. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana will be handling the spin department. Matheesha Pathirana and Ashitha Fernando will be the two frontline pacers in the team, along with Chamindu Wickramasinghe.

Sri Lanka playing XI for the first T20I against West Indies

Here's the playing XI of Sri Lanka for the first T20I against West Indies

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando

Sri Lanka has been in decent form

Sri Lanka has been in the fine form of late. They played a quality brand of cricket over the last few months. They recently defeated the India National Cricket Team in the three-match ODI series by the margin of 2-0 and then also went on to win the Test match in England.

They would be keen to carry on the good form in the T20I series against the West Indies National Cricket Team, who are also in the staggering touch. They whitewashed South Africa National Cricket Team in the three-match T20I series and it promises to be an exciting series between the teams.

Schedule of the Sri Lanka vs West Indies white-ball series

After the first game on 13th October, the second game will be played on 15th October, with the last game slated to take place on 17th October. All three games will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka and West Indies will then play against each other in the three-match ODI series. The first game will be played on 20th October, with the second match set to take place on 23rd October. The last match of the 50-over format will be played on 26th October. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Kandy will be hosting all three games.