India vs Sri Lanka 2022: India's Predicted Playing XI For First T20I

India and Sri Lanka take on each other in a three-match T20I series followed by a two-match Test series. The series kicks off with the first T20I in Lucknow. India head into the series as the top-ranked team in the ICC T20I rankings while Sri Lanka are languishing at the ninth spot.

Heading into the series, India whitewashed West Indies in ODIs and T20Is under Rohit Sharma. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, lost a T20I series against Australia 4-1. Both teams have injury concerns, however, India look like a more stronger team with the resources that they have.

For India. as far as their squad is concerned, Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar are ruled out of the series due to injury. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been rested while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have returned to the side.

Sanju Samson has been given another opportunity to prove his credentials at the international level. With many options to choose from, the management should be spot on with the players that they would like to field in the first T20I.

In this article, we will take a look at India’s Predicted XI for the first T20I in Lucknow.

India vs Sri Lanka 2022: India’s Predicted Playing XI For First T20I

Rohit Sharma

The Indian skipper will continue to open the batting in T20Is. He was in terrific form in the games that he played. Though he scored 78 runs in the ODI series and 66 runs in the T20I series it was his intent to score runs that stood out. In the pre-match presser, he spoke about knowing what he has to do with the team that he has got at his disposal heading into the T20 World Cup. His batting at the top will pretty much set the tone for India.

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Ishan Kishan

Kishan will partner Rohit Sharma at the top. The skipper and the team management had faith in the youngster and it is high time that he delivers and makes an impact with the bat. Kishan will also keep wickets in Rishabh Pant’s absence, which means that Sanju Samson might not be included in the playing XI.

Shreyas Iyer

The absence of Virat Kohli will allow Iyer to bat at number three in the line-up. He scored a brilliant 80 batting at number four in the ODI series against West Indies in the third game. Here he will get a chance at number three and an opportunity to showcase his skills in that position. Iyer has matured as a cricketer and would like to bat responsibly at that position.

Deepak Hooda

The power-hitter can slot in at number five in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. Hooda made his international debut for India against West Indies and was retained in the squad for this series. Skipper Rohit Sharma might need his off-spin bowling along with his power-hitting skills in the XI.

Venkatesh Iyer

Iyer was India’s biggest positive from the recently concluded series against West Indies. He scored 92 runs in the T20Is and picked up a couple of key wickets in the third and final T20I.

The BCCI in their quest to groom him as India’s all-format all-rounder should give him more games and allow him to get better on his finishing skills. The southpaw will bat at number five in the batting order and might bowl a few if required.

Ravindra Jadeja

Another all-rounder in the playing XI, Ravindra Jadeja has returned full fit into the playing XI. He has been an asset whenever he has played for India.

He’s known for his disciplined line and length bowling. He is a brilliant fielder to boost which makes him an automatic pick in the XI.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar extends India’s batting line-up a tad bit as he slots in at number seven in the batting order. Time and again he has proved his skills with the bat. He has shown his impact with the ball too. Very recently his 19th over in the second T20I against West Indies is fresh on everyone’s mind. He will lead the pace attack along with Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah will replace Deepak Chahar in the line-up. Like Jadeja, he is also returning to the team after a layoff. He returns to the XI as the vice-captain for this series and skipper Rohit Sharma has put his complete trust in him to do his job to perfection. Bumrah continues to be one of the best bowlers across formats in world cricket.

Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel might feature in this playing XI as India”s third seamer. His death bowling skills was on show in the series against West Indies when he defended 25 runs off the final over in the second T20I. It is purely due to his death bowling skills he might be selected ahead of Avesh Khan and Mohammed Siraj in the line-up.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal is one of the two-three spin options with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi being the other two. Recently the management has been using more of him in the playing Xi ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, who is also in the playing XI. Chahal picked five wickets in two games in the ODI series followed by two wickets from as many games in the T20Is.

Ravi Bishnoi

Bishnoi will complete India’s predicted XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka. He impressed one and all in the three games that he played against West Indies. While there is still a scope of trying Kuldeep alongside Chahal in the bowling attack, the management might think otherwise.

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