Third blow for Sri Lanka! Binura Fernando doubtful for T20I series-opener against India

The three-match T20I series between Sri Lanka and world champions Team India will be getting underway on Saturday (July 27). All three games are scheduled to be played in Pallekele.

And even before the start of the series, Sri Lanka could lose one of their players as fast-bowler Binura Fernando is doubtful for the upcoming first game. According to reports in Sri Lankan media, the left-arm pacer is doubtful for the series-opener in Pallekele due to flu.

In case, Binura Fernando fails to recover in time for the first T20I, it will be the third big blow for the hosts as Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera have already been ruled out of the series. The 29-year-old was in stunning form in the Lanka Premier League earlier this month. He was one of the best fast bowlers in the tournament. He picked up 13 wickets and maintained a brilliant economy rate of 6.81 while bowling mainly the powerplay and the death overs.

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Missing out due to flu will be a big blow for the pacer as well. Binura Fernando is yet to become a regular in the Sri Lankan team owing to a spate of injuries and will be hoping that he manages to recover completely for the upcoming game. In T20Is, he has played 17 games so far and has picked up 16 wickets.

A new captain for Sri Lanka:

The upcoming series against India will mark a new beginning for Sri Lanka as they will be having a new captain in T20Is. Earlier this month, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down as the captain following Sri Lanka's disastrous display at the T20 World Cup last month. The Islanders failed to progress ahead of the group stage in the tournament.

Charith Asalanka has replaced Hasaranga as Sri Lanka's new T20I captain. Earlier this month, Asalanka led Jaffna Kings to the LPL title and will be hoping to guide Sri Lanka to a famous win over India.

Meanwhile, India have a new captain for the series as well. After Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is last month following the victory in the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav has replaced him as the new India captain.