Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 2nd T20I- Sri Lanka’s Predicted XI

India and Sri Lanka are set to lock horns in the 2nd T20I of the ongoing bilateral series. Indian squad led by Shikhar Dhawan is currently on the Sri Lanka tour. India has already clinched victory in the ODI series 2-1. Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I match will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. India defeated Sir Lanka in the 1st T20I match by 38 runs.

After opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka restricted India to 164/5 in 20 overs. For India, Shikhar Dhawan (46), Sanju Samson (27), and Suryakumar Yadav (50) played brilliant knocks. However, when these three batsmen lost their wickets till the 15th over, the lower-order batsmen could not manage to give an outstanding finish in the death overs.

Later, Sri Lanka made quite a decent start to the chase, reaching 82-3 in 12 overs. However, they later lost wickets in quick succession against a strong pace attack by Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 126, losing the match by 36 runs.

Now, Sri Lanka might shuffle their playing XI for the 2nd game after the defeat, something which they also undertook after the initial loss in the ODI series. Here we take a look at Sri Lanka’s predicted XI in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I match.

Sri Lanka vs India 2021, 2nd T20I- Sri Lanka’s Predicted XI

Avishka Fernando

Avishka Fernando has been the most impressive batsman for Sri Lanka during India’s tour of Sri Lanka. The right-handed batsman smashed 2 half-centuries in the ODI series, and also scored 26 runs in the 1st T20I. Sri Lanka is most likely to retain Fernando as the opener in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I as well.

Minod Bhanuka (Wicketkeeper)

Minod Bhanuka is the wicket-keeper of the team and also the opening partner of Avishka Fernando. In the absence of the team’s captain and wicketkeeper Dimuth Karunaratne, Minod Bhanuka has been taking up the wicketkeeper’s duties. He lost his wicket cheaply for 7 runs in the 1st T20I, but he gave good support to Avishka Fernando at the opening slot during the ODI series.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Bhanuka Rajapaksa was not part of the 1st T20I but he played at the no.3 spot in all the 3 ODIs. After failing to come up with a good batting show in 1st T20I, Sri Lanka might bring back Rajapaksa to the playing XI. The left-handed batsman played a crucial knock of 65 runs in Sri Lanka vs India 3rd ODI, which helped Sri Lanka to win the match. Rajapaksa might get a chance in the playing XI in the 2nd T20I.

Dhananjaya de Silva

Dhananjaya de Silva’s no. 3 spot might be given to Rajapaksa but he will still be part of the team. Like the ODI series, he might slip to the no.4 batting spot in the 2nd T20I against India. He could only score 9 runs in the last game. However, Sri Lanka does not have many options in the middle order and de Silva might be retained in the playing XI in the next game as well.

Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka played a magnificent knock of 44 runs off just 26 balls in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I. His quickfire knock kept Sri Lanka in the dominant position till the 13th over. After Asalanka lost his wicket, Sri Lanka’s batting order was crushed quickly against Indian bowlers. With his fabulous batting show in the 1st T20I, Asalanka is highly likely to be part of the playing XI in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I.

Dasun Shanaka (Captain)

Dasun Shanaka is the skipper of Sri Lanka team during the ongoing series. Although Shanaka has mostly failed to come up with a good show in any game so far, he is quite an experienced player in Sri Lanka’s squad. Shanaka scored 16 runs in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I and lost his wicket at a crucial moment during the chase.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga executed an impressive bowling show in the 1st T20I match. The leg-spinner picked 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs. He picked two crucial wickets of Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson in the match. Hasranga also gave a great bowling show in the ODI series, picking 3 wickets in 2 matches.

Chamika Karunaratne

Chamika Karunaratne is another player who is highly likely to be part of the team in Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I match. Karunaratne showed a great batting show in the ODI series. In the 1st T20I, he could only score 3 runs but managed to pick one wicket for 34 runs in his 4 overs.

Isuru Udana

Isuru Udana could not pick any wicket in the 1st T20I in his 4 overs while giving away 32 runs in his 4 overs. However, the left-arm pacer is quite an experienced player in the young squad of Sri Lanka. Being a left-arm bowler, he gives more depth to the Sri Lanka pace attack. Udana might be given another opportunity in the 2nd T20I match.

Dushmantha Chameera

Dushmantha Chameera gave the best bowling show for the team in Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I. The right-arm pacer conceded only 24 runs in his 4 overs while picking 2 wickets. He also bowled Prithvi Shaw on golden duck, giving a blow to the Indian team at the start.

Praveen Jayawickrama

Praveen Jayawickrama might get a chance to play in the playing XI during Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I match. Spinner Akila Dananjaya emerged to be very costly during the 1st T20I match, conceding 40 runs in 3 overs.

His expensive bowling also compelled the skipper to restrict his spell to only 3 overs. Hence, Praveen Jayawickrama might get a chance against Dananjaya as the former showed a great performance in the 3rd ODI, picking 3 wickets.