Team led by Hardik Pandya India For the first time on home soil during the first T20 match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. And the talismanic all-rounder couldn’t have asked for a better start to his tenure as the leader of Team India in his own backyard. A new-look Team India registered a thrilling two-run win against the defending Asia Cup winners to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.
The hosts managed to win the contest, but their batting unit failed to put up a convincing performance. Indian batting in the absence of big names like Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli And KL Rahul was heavily dependent on Suryakumar Yadav. But this Mumbai-born batsman could score only seven runs. All-rounders Axar Patel and Deepak Hooda eventually emerged as India’s saviors in the match. The duo put on a solid 68-run partnership and helped India reach a total of 162.
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In the bowling department, debutant Shivam Mavi led India and the 24-year-old pacer took four wickets to guide his side to a much-needed win.
India will now aim to carry forward the winning streak and win the next match against the Dasun Shanaka-led side to seal the T20I series. 2nd T20 match between India and Sri Lanka to be played in Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.
India vs Sri Lanka Possible Starting XI:
India Predicted Starting Line-up: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka Predicted Starting Line-Up: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charit Aslanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahesh Thekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
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India vs Sri Lanka Team:
India squad for the T20I series: Hardik Pandya (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
Sri Lanka squad for T20I series: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Aslanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Mahesh Thikshana , Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Velage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara
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