Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant. (Picture Credit: ANI)
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant scored 49 runs from 33 balls in the first T20I played between India and Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday (July 27).
After beating Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series on Saturday (July 27), the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian men’s cricket team will face Charith Asalanka’s men in the second T20I on Sunday (July 28). The second match is scheduled to take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
After a super show with the bat in the series opener, Indian players would like to come up with another big performance in the second T20I and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant scored 40, 34, 58, and 49 runs, respectively, in the first T20I, and the team management will have high hopes from them once again.
During the second T20I, Jaiswal will have a chance to become the first batter in the world to score 1000 runs in international cricket in 2024. The left-handed opening batter has 993 runs to his name in 12 matches played so far.
India rested Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Khaleel Ahmed for the first T20I, and even though there are very few hopes of a change in the playing XI, Indian team management could consider including Dube in the side in place of Hardik Pandya or Rinku Singh. Hardik and Rinku flopped in the first T20I and were only able to score nine and one run, respectively.
It was a forgetful day for Hardik with the ball as well. He was hammered for 41 runs in his quota of four overs and failed to take any wickets.
Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag also flopped with the bat in the first match, but he managed to pick up three wickets for five runs in 1.2 overs, which will be enough for him to keep his place in the playing XI for the second match as well.
India is likely to go with the same bowling combination of Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, despite them not being able to perform as per expectations in the first match played on Saturday.
India’s likely playing XI for the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj