IND vs SL, First T20: In-form India look to trample over starless Sri Lanka

Pune: With Asia Cup and ICC World T20 in sight, a confident Indian side with MS Dhoni at the helm of affairs will look to ascend further after a stunning 3-0 sweep Down Under, when they host a second string Sri Lankan unit, led by Dinesh Chandimal, here in the first of the three match T20I series on Tuesday.

India enter the match as clear favourites with key players in prime form. After having finally managed to find the right combination after the recent Aussie win, Dhoni and his men will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the momentum sticks with the hosts and the No 1 T20 side, specially after a poor run of form in the ODIs against Australia.

Virat Kohli, who had a blistering outing in the three-match series, scoring 199 runs, has been rested.

The spotlight is on rookie all-rounder Pawan Negi. The cricketer, after his selection in the Indian team, scaled greater heights in the Indian Premier League auction. He ended up being the costliest Indian – sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 8.5 crore.

Even Manish Pandey, whose century in the final ODI against Australia won the match, is expected to fire in the middle order.

Negi and Pandey’s inclusion strengthens the formidable batting line-up which includes Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Dhoni.

Spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will be an important cog in the wheel on spin-friendly tracks in India.

India’s bright prospect Jasprit Bumrah, a revelation Down Under, will more certainly occupy the first slot of the pace machines along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and veteran Ashish Nehra.

Hardik Pandya, another experiment that worked for Dhoni in Australia, is likely to feature in the playing eleven as well.

The T20 defending champs on the other hand, in absence of their skipper Lasith Malinga are hit by injury concerns. The pace spearhead, joins the list of Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who have been rested because of recent flare ups.

Dilshan, who did not travel with the team to India, is expected to be available for the second match, in Ranchi, on February 12, with the third game in Visakhapatnam on February 14.

However visitors need not lose hope. Veteran fast bowler Dilhara Fernando was recalled in the side to replace Malinga. Along with Thisara Perera, who garnered experience in the sub-continent playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL, they will look to create trouble for the hosts.

Sri Lanka are coming off a poor run of form in T20s having lost both their matches against New Zealand and will look to bounce back in the India series.

Interestingly, the story is quite different when it comes to India. Both these teams last faced each other during the final of the 2014 World T20, where the Islanders scampered away with a six-wicket win to clinch the title.

As far as the head-to-head record goes, India and Sri Lanka have played a total of six matches and sit content with each side winning three.

The visitors currently sit third in the T20 rankings, narrowly behind India and West Indies. A series win would thrust India’s neighbour to top spot leaving Team India occupy seventh place in the rankings list. The last thing Dhoni and his men would not want is an upset ahead of World T20.