India vs Sri Lanka 2020: 1st T20I - Sub-continent Rivals Lock Horns As Another World Cup Looms Large

If 2019 was all about India proving their supremacy in ODI and Tests, 2020 is going to be how they prepare on winning the ultimate prize in the shortest format. While the men in blue finished 2019 as one of the best performing teams in ODI and Test cricket, they remained inconsistent in T20s. In the dawn of the new decade, India and Sri Lanka will kickstart their preparations for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year with the three-match T20 series.

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The hosts have plenty of combinations of players to choose from to decide on their best line-up. The upcoming three-match series will witness the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who hasn’t featured for India since September 2019. With Rohit Sharma rested, Shikhar Dhawan gets a chance to put his hands up to stay in the reckoning for a berth in the T20 World Cup. Since no timeframe has been set for the return of Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur are likely to partner Bumrah in the fast-bowling department.

As for Sri Lanka, they are a fast-evolving yet an unpredictable T20 side. Their second-string team battered Pakistan by 3-0, they faced a thrashing from Australia by the same margin. The tourists have got some exciting crop of young players who can spring a surprise on India. Avishka Fernando, who was one of the finds for Sri Lanka in World Cup 2019, would be opening with Danushka Gunathilaka, as confirmed by Lasith Malinga.

In Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Dashun Shanaka, Oshada Fernando, the Lankans have some of the promising middle-order batsmen. Then there are the likes of Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who can whack it out of the ground as well as flummox the Indian batsmen. While Sri Lanka have lost their last four out of five T20s against India, they can throw a surprise, if the inexperienced players stand up, as they did against Pakistan.

Playing Combinations:

Sri Lanka:

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As confirmed by captain Lasith Malinga, Avishka Fernando and Danushka Gunathalika will open the innings. With plenty of proven players in the middle-order, it would be interesting to see how Sri Lanka slot the experienced campaigner Angelo Mathews.

Predicted XI: Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathalika, Kusal Perera (wk), Oshada Fernando, Dasun Shanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga (c), Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasranga, Lakshan Sandakan.

India:

Apart from the aforementioned three pace bowlers, India must reunite Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. It will also be interesting to see if the home side goes for a fast-bowling all-rounder in Shivam Dube or a spin bowling all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja.

Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

Pitch report:

The boundaries in the Barasapara Cricket Stadium are not so big and with the pitch reported as flat, is known for staging high-scoring games. Nevertheless, the only T20I staged by this venue saw the batting first side score only 118. However, by the current news of it, batting second could be a wise move, when not having a clear idea of the par score due to the flatness of the deck.

Weather report:

Rains are forecasted in Guwahati and hence batting second on terms of how to go about the innings would be an intelligent move. With the pitch rumoured as a lifeless one, it might be tough to predict what the par score stands as.

Head to Head:

Played: 16

India won: 11

Sri Lanka: 5

Stats that matter:

The only T20I hosted by this ground was back in 2017 which Australia won by eight wickets against India.

Virat Kohli needs just one run to become the highest run-getter in T20 internationals. The Indian captain is levelled with Rohit Sharma at 2633 runs currently and is cusp on creating a world record. With Rohit Sharma rested for this series, Kohli can go well past him.

India beat Sri Lanka by 93 runs in Cuttack in a T20 international back in December 2017. It is India’s second-highest victory in the shortest format in terms of runs.

Match prediction:

Given the wide gulf between two sides in terms of history and experience, India should go 1-0 up in Guwahati. However, the visitors are equally capable of springing a surprise against their sub-continent rivals. India can take them lightly only at their own peril.

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