Nidahas Trophy, Match 1, Sri Lanka vs India: Weather Report

After a sensational tour of South Africa, India is all set to lock horns with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in a tri-national T20I series. There is no doubt about the fact that the Men in Blue will start as the overwhelming favourites in the tournament. Many of their top players have been rested for the series. However, the team still looks a formidable unit and will look to seal yet another series.

The Men in Blue will start their campaign in the Nidahas Trophy against the hosts tomorrow. In the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will be leading the side. Rishabh Pant in all likelihood will break into the playing XI given his destructive hitting prowess. The youngster hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations in the last few months. However, he is a talent to watch out for. When he gets going he has the ability to decimate any attack on his day.

Meanwhile, the weather is expected to be sunny with chances of light shower during the match. As per reports in the Deccan Chronicle, there are 47% chances of shower on Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm, an hour before the start of the match. However, the fans can take heart from the fact that the chances of rain go down drastically after the scheduled start of the match.

In all likelihood, India will field a team which will be a whole lot different to which they had placed in South Africa. Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant are the youngsters who will be looking for this opportunity if given a chance in the Playing XI.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will look to surprise the Men in Blue with a fiery performance tomorrow. In all likelihood, Upul Tharanga will open the innings with Kusal Perera. It is still not sure whether captain Dinesh Chandimal will don the wicket-keeping gloves or Kusal Perera? They have a pretty decent team and can surprise India especially in the shortest format of the game.

However, the visitors on their day are way ahead of their oppositions despite wholesome changes in the squad which won emphatically in South Africa. Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera in all probability will be the two pacers while Thisara Perera will play the role of an all-rounder. Akila Dananjaya who tormented India in one of the clashes back in Sri Lanka will be the lone spinner in the team.

Here are the Predicted XI’s

India

Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sri Lanka

Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Suranga Lakmal (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya De Silva.