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IND vs SL 1st T20I- Match Preview
The action for the India tour of Sri Lanka 2021 now heads into the second leg for the T20Is. The two teams will feature in a three-match T20I series starting July 24. All three matches will be played at the R.Premdasa Stadium in Colombo. After securing their ninth consecutive ODI series win over Sri Lanka, the tourists will be eager to kick off the T20Is in some style.
Sri Lanka would feel confident going into the T20I series especially after managing to win the third ODI against their neighbors. However, they will be cautious of this young Indian line-up which is filled with some seasoned T20 players in the squad. Both sides will look to tick a few boxes ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021 later this year. The three T20Is against Sri Lanka will be India's last chance to assess its players ahead of the marquee tournament in Dubai.
Before we take a look at IND vs SL Today Cricket Match Prediction, here’s a look at what does 1st T20I has to offer:
IND vs SL – Predicted Playing XIs for the 1st T20I
India
The ‘Men in Blue' will aim to field their strongest playing XI for the first T20I against the Islanders. However, the team management might consider roping in a few youngsters in the starting XI as the series goes along. Prithvi Shaw or Devdutt Paddikal is certain to open along with Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order. Varun Chakravarthy might make his T20I debut in the first T20I itself after failing to find a spot in the playing XI during the ODI series.
Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan (Wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka
The hosts will have a huge task in hand to figure out their best playing for the T20s against India. Dasun Shanaka and the team management will have to settle on a combination that gives them the optimum chance to secure a win in the first T20I. Avishka Fernando will continue to open. Wanindu Hasaranga, who missed the final ODI due to injury, is unlikely to feature in the upcoming three T20Is.
Playing XI: Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama
IND vs SL Head-to-Head record in T20I cricket
Matches Played: 19
India Won: 13
Sri Lanka Won:5
Tie/NR: 1
India and Sri Lanka have met on 19 occasions in the T20 format. While India has dominated the Island nation in their head-to-head record, Sri Lanka has beaten India in some of the most crucial T20 matches including the T20 World Cup 2014 Final. In the upcoming series, the visitors will hope to further strengthen their record against Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the home team will be aiming to better their T20 performance against the mighty Indians.
Players to Watch out for in today's IND vs SL T20I match:
India has some exciting names to watch out for ahead of today's IND vs SL 1st T20I match in Colombo. Suryakumar Yadav, who has had a rollicking start to his T20I career, is already in with a chance to make it to India's T20 World Cup squad 2021. As a result, the middle-order batsman would be keen on making the opportunity count in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. The focus will also be on the mystery spin of India's Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner could pip Kuldeep Yadav in the pecking order for India's pool of spinners in the T20Is.
For the home team, they would expect the likes of Dasun Shanaka, Avishka Fernando to bring their A-game against a dominant Indian line-up. The all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne has also been impressive with his lusty blows in the lower order combined with his variations as a medium pacer. He will definitely be one of the players Sri Lanka might rely on the first T20I in Colombo.
IND vs SL Today Match Prediction – Who will win today’s T20I?
The two teams find themselves on the opposite ends of a tunnel. While Sri Lanka has been poor in this format, the ‘Men in Blue' haven't lost any series for nearly two years now. It will be safe to assume that India will have the upper hand going into today's 1st T20I vs SL. Despite a second-string squad, the might of Team India should be enough to surpass the Sri Lankan challenge on a given day. As a result, India will win today's IND vs SL 1st T20I on July 25.
