Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 1st T20I- India’s Predicted XI

India will counter Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I of the upcoming three-match T20I series. Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday (July 25). India and Sri Lanka witnessed some nail-biting competition in the recently concluded three-match ODI series. India managed to bag the series in their kitty after defeating Sri Lanka 2-1.

India won the 1st ODI with ease, chasing down the 263-run target by 7 wickets. However, Sri Lanka gave a tough challenge to the India team in the 2nd ODI with their effective bowling attack. However, the Shikhar Dhawan and boys still managed to pull off a victory with 3 wickets while chasing a 276-run target in the match.

In Sri Lanka vs India 3rd ODI, Sri Lankan bowlers totally crushed the Indian batting order, restricting them to 225 all-out. Later, they chased down the target with 3 wickets in hand.

The idea of introducing 5 debutants in the 3rd ODI did not work for the Indian side, as they totally failed to give a tough challenge to Sri Lanka. Now in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I, the visitors will look to pick the best XI members in the team so as to start the series on a winning note.

Sri Lanka, which is led by Dasun Shanaka, would have gained confidence after crushing India in the 3rd ODI. After losing the ODI series, the home side will aim to bag the T20I series in their favor. Here we talk about India’s predicted XI in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I match.

Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 1st T20I- India’s Predicted XI

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan will be the captain of India in the T20I series and hence will lead the team in the 1st match. Although the left-handed batsman could not do much in the 2nd and 3rd ODI, his spectacular knock of unbeaten 86 runs helped India to win the first ODI. Dhawan was also the highest run-scorer for India in the ODI series. He will lead the team in the 1st T20I and will also play as an opener.

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw will be another opener for India in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I. As an opener, Prithvi Shaw played magnificent knocks of 43 and 49 in the 1st and 3rd ODI respectively, missing out on his half-century by few runs. Shaw is in great form and has a lot of experience to open with Shikhar Dhawan. The Indian team is highly expected to retain the Dhawan-Shaw opening pair in the 1st T20I as well.

Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)

Ishan Kishan was part of the first two ODI matches against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batsman lost his wicket for just 1 run in the 2nd ODI, however, smacked a fabulous quickfire of 59 off 42 in the 1st ODI. Kishan is a hard-hitting batsman in the T20 format and he might keep the stumps for India in the 1st T20I.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey scored 74 runs in the three ODIs against Sri Lanka. The right-handed batsman got a good batting start in the 1st and 2nd ODI but failed to convert his innings to a big score. Pandey scored 26 runs in the 1st ODI and 37 runs in the 2nd ODI. In the third ODI, he could only score 11 runs. Manish Pandey is more experienced than many players in the squad and the team will probably give him an opportunity to play in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar was the most consistent batsman for India in the ODI series. The middle-order batsman managed his duty well, piling 31*, 53, and 40 runs in the three ODIs respectively. With a batting average of 62, he was the highest run-scorer for India in the ODI series.

Yadav was also adjudged player of the series. The 30-year-old has proved himself to be a bankable batsman at the middle-order and the Indian team will not risk benching him in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya could not do his job effectively in the ODI series. In the 2 innings he batted, the right-handed batsman was gone for a duck in one game and could only score 19 runs in the 2nd game. The right-arm seamer picked 2 wickets in three games.

Although Hardik Pandya is suffering from a bad form, he is one of the most experienced players in the squad. The team might pick him in the playing XI in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.

Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya played 1st and 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka and he executed quite an impressive performance. The left-handed batsman scored a crucial knock of 35 runs in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd ODI.

While bowling, the left-arm spinner picked 1 wicket and had the best economy rate of 3.50, better than any other bowler from both teams. Krunal Pandya has proved himself to be an essential all-rounder for Team India during the tour.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal played only 2 games during the ODI series, however, he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 5 wickets. The leg spinner was also the only bowler to pick total of 5 wickets in the tournament.

His absence was definitely felt in the 3rd ODI when India was struggling to attack the Sri Lanka batsmen in the 2nd innings. Chahal is another player who might be part of the playing XI in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav played the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka. The left-arm spinner picked two crucial wickets in the first ODI. After dismissing Sri Lanka’s opener Minod Bhanuka and one-down Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the same over, Yadav gave a big blow to Sri Lanka’s top order.

He could not find wickets in the 2nd ODI but had a decent overall economy of 5.42. Kuldeep Yadav is another player who might be inducted into India’s playing XI in the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was rested in the third ODI as the team planned to give opportunities to 5 debutants in the match. The right-arm pacer did a great job in the 2nd ODI, picking 3 wickets.

The 3rd ODI has definitely given an indication to India it will be a good idea to keep some experienced bowlers in the playing XI against Sri Lanka. Hence, Kumar is highly expected to the part of the Indian team in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar gave an astonishing show in the ODI series. In the two games he played, he picked 4 wickets and finished as the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Moreover, the right-arm pacer also played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 69 runs in the 2nd ODI.

His marvelous knock while batting at no.8 was the sole reason for India’s victory in the match. Chahar has a good record in T20I so far and he might also find a place in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I.