🏏Sri Lanka vs India-T20I Series: M2 MCA Stadium, Pune 05/01/2023🏏

🏏SL vs India-T20I Series: M2 MCA Stadium, Pune 05/01/2023 at 7:00 PM🏏

India look to limit lapses as they eye another bilateral T20I series win

Sri Lanka will hope for an improved show at a venue they have had success in the past

Securing a series at home has pretty much become a routine for the Indian side, and that holds even if they don't put out a first-choice XI on the park. On Thursday (January 5), they will fancy their chances of adding to their collection of silverware as Hardik Pandya's new-look T20I side continues to make positive strides.

It might not be as straightforward as it seems though, especially after the close call in Mumbai in the opening game of the series. India found themselves in trouble with the bat for the major part of their innings at the Wankhede Stadium and had to be rescued in the final few overs by Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel. With the ball, even though they made a good start with debutant Shivam Mavi making early inroads, the game almost slipped away at the end with Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga taking Sri Lanka closer.

Even in the final over, Hardik gambled by bowling Axar Patel to Chamika Karunaratne and the move paid off. Hardik did stress that the prospect of losing the game had no bearing in his decision to hand the ball to Axar as he wanted to test his troops under pressure. The skipper also intended to bat first at the Wankhede, unlike what most teams would have done at this venue, and reiterated the need for the squad to put themselves in difficult situations that might help them in major tournaments.

Expect more of the same in Pune as well even though the series is there for the taking. From a Sri Lankan perspective, they would hope for a similar performance from their bowlers to give themselves the best chance of squaring the series. Keeping the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav quiet is no mean feat but if they do let them off the hook, their chances will significantly go down.

Team News

India

Arshdeep Singh was unavailable for the first game, having not recovered in time for illness. With a short turnaround and an ODI series coming up, India might be tempted to not rush him in. Sanju Samson is a doubtful starter for this game and that might open the doors for Rahul Tripathi.

Predicted XI- Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel/Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik

Sri Lanka

Kasun Rajitha was taken for runs in Mumbai but he did fare well in Pune way back in 2016 in a T20I to help Sri Lanka win. Will that help him retain his spot? Avishka Fernando may have to wait.

Predicted XI - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

Thanks for the tag 🤗

Thank you Raji for the thread and for tagging me. 🤗

India will be eyeing another series victory against the visitors when they take the field in the second T20I in Pune.

Pitch Report

The surface at this venue is a batter's dream as the pitch does not have much for the bowlers, with the shorter boundaries also aiding the batters. The spinners might get some grip in the latter overs, however, the team winning the toss will be inclined to chase in the match given the flatness of the track.

Thank you for the tag, after a close 1st match this one should also see a tough fight!

Hope the top order finds some balance today.

All the best to both teams❤️

India

Arshdeep Singh was unavailable for the first game, having not recovered in time for illness. With a short turnaround and an ODI series coming up, India might be tempted to not rush him in. Sanju Samson is a doubtful starter for this game and that might open the doors for Rahul Tripathi.

Predicted XI- Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel/Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik

Sri Lanka

Kasun Rajitha was taken for runs in Mumbai but he did fare well in Pune way back in 2016 in a T20I to help Sri Lanka win. Will that help him retain his spot? Avishka Fernando may have to wait.

Predicted XI - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

Let us expect a thrilling match of the same in Pune as well , even though the series is there for the taking. From a Sri Lankan perspective, they would hope for a similar performance from their bowlers to give themselves the best chance of squaring the series. Keeping the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav quiet is no mean feat, but if they do let them off the hook, their chances will significantly go down.

6pm local: No Bumrah, no Arshdeep to face; winning an important toss and chasing at the Wankhede, against an opposition captain who wants to put his team in difficult situations and doesn't mind losing; the bowlers doing a good job of restricting India to 161. And despite all of this, Sri Lanka's batters still couldn't get the job done as they plummeted to their 11th consecutive T20I loss in India. That's quite a telling streak in this format, and reflects Sri Lanka's batting woes more than anything. Will it be the same story today? Or will they come to the party in Pune? Hello and welcome to our live coverage as we look ahead to the second T20I.