Nidahas Trophy 2018: India's Predicted XI against Sri Lanka

After a humiliating loss in the first game, Team India is back on course after beating Bangladesh convincingly. However, they will be keen to take a revenge against Sri Lanka when they meet again tomorrow at Colombo.

Meanwhile, India has played a relatively young team with big names opting to rest after a grueling tour to the Rainbow Nation. However, the young guns have proved their worth and made a strong case for themselves.

Although stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma has failed to get going with the bat, Shikhar Dhawan has been rock solid in the top-order. Vijay Shankar has also done well in last game well supported by Jaydev Unadkat.

India is likely to field the same XI that played against Bangladesh as they are not keen to break the winning combination.

Here is the predicted XI of India against Sri Lanka:

Shikhar Dhawan:

Dhawan has stood up in the absence of Virat Kohli to help India provide a good start. In the two matches in Sri Lanka so far, Dhawan has smashed 145 runs.

India will want Dhawan to continue his run-scoring spree in the upcoming fixture against Sri Lanka.

Rohit Sharma (C):

The stand-in-skipper has failed to find his form back. His off-form in the top-order has hurt India badly in the tournament opener.

However, the swashbuckling opener will want to get his form back to lead his team from the front.

Rishabh Pant:

It is a great opportunity for the youngster in the absence of the regular cricketers. However, Pant has failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Meanwhile, it is likely to be the last opportunity for the young wicket-keeper batsman. Further, he will be keen to make a strong case for himself in the next game.

Suresh Raina:

Since his comeback to the Indian team, Raina has good temperament with useful??contributions. Also, he has shown great maturity taking responsibility in a relatively weak middle-order.

However, his team needs him to come good once again to change fortunes against Sri Lanka.

Manish Pandey:

The middle-order batsman from Karnataka played a valuable knock in the last game to take India home against Bangladesh. Pandey played an unbeaten knock of 27 runs in 19 balls as India crossed the target with ease.

Meanwhile, Manish needs to show his consistency to cement his place in that middle-order.

Dinesh Karthik (WK):

Although Karthik has not got enough opportunities with the bat, he has shown some good form in South Africa. Further, he needs to step up in the absence of MS Dhoni and take the onus on himself.

Karthik needs to get going if India has to put a good target on the scoreboard.

Washington Sundar:

The young right-arm off-spinner has done impeccably well in this series so far bowling tight overs in the powerplays. Although he went wicketless in the last match, his line and length impressed everybody.

The men in blues will need one more impressive performance from him to overcome the Sri Lankan challenge.

Vijay Shankar:

Shankar has proved his worth in the last match returning with 2 for 32 and picking up the man of the match award. However, he is yet to get a chance with the bat, he has done well in place of Hardik Pandya.

Further, he needs to continue his form to make a strong case for himself.

Jaydev Unadkat:

The left-arm is the highest wicket-taker for India so far in this series. Also, he has led the bowling attack well in the absence of premier fast bowlers.

However, Unadkat needs to bring his superlative game once again if India has to break Sri Lanka’s top-order.

Yuzvendra Chahal:

Chahal has been India’s strike bowler for India in the shorter formats for the last one year. Further, he has stood up tall to the trust India’s regular skipper Virat Kohli has put in him.

Meanwhile, he needs to continue doing his job if India wants to continue their winning run.

Shardul Thakur:

Although he went for runs against Sri Lanka, Thakur came back well against Bangladesh. However, Shardul needs to be on top of his game to rattle a top form Sri Lankan batting order.

Also, Thakur has to make his mark in the limited opportunities, so the onus is on him to rise up to the occasion.

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