Sri Lanka Announce Squad For India T20Is

Sri Lanka have recalled their former captain Angelo Mathews for the upcoming three-match T20I series against India. The series will start at Guwahati on January 5 while the second and third game will be held in Indore (January 7) and Pune (January 10) respectively.

A series of injuries and battles with fitness compelled Angelo Mathews to miss a number of T20Is in the last few months. In fact, he did not play a single T20I in 2019 with his last appearance coming against South Africa way back in August last year. But he has shown good fitness in recent weeks and has also started bowling which must have prompted the selectors to recall him in the team.

Along with Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva has returned to the squad too. He has not played a T20I since the one against South Africa in March this year. He recently scored a century during the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan and will be looking to perform in the same manner on the upcoming tour, provided he gets the chance.

Lasith Malinga will continue to lead the side as well as the pace attack that will miss the services of Nuwan Pradeep. The pacer is out of the tour after injuring his ankle while training. Lahiru Kumara and Isuru Udana are the other two pacers in the squad. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga heads the spin attack along with Lakshan Sandakan and Dhananjaya de Silva.

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India favourites:

This is the first bilateral meeting between the two countries since Sri Lanka visited India towards the end of 2017 for a full-fledged series. India had hosted the visitors for three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. As expected, the hosts won all the series. They won the Test 1-0, ODIs 2-1 and the T20Is 3-0. Going by current form, India are the favourites for the upcoming series too.

India are high on confidence after beating West Indies in T20I and ODI series recently. However, the Men in Blue should guard against complacency as Sri Lanka can spring a surprise or two. Just a couple of months ago, the Islanders had stunned world number one Pakistan in their own backyard. Sri Lanka had thrashed the Men in Green by 3-0.

Sri Lanka squad:

Lasith Malinga (C), Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajpaksa, Oshada Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha.