🏏Sri Lanka vs India-T20I Series: M3 SCA Stadium, Rajkot 07/01/2023🏏

🏏Sri Lanka vs India-T20I Series: M3 Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on 07/01/2023 at 7:00PM IST🏏

Just four days ago, India and Sri Lanka going into a T20I series in a 50-over World Cup year seemed futile from a sporting perspective. But after two closely fought contests put the series on an even keel, Saturday's finale could yet serve as an interesting precursor for the ODIs to follow.

On paper, Hardik Pandya's India don't boast of too much T20I experience. It's a young squad, but with players who've repeatedly 'been there, done that' in the high-pressure situations in the IPL. That came through in both the fixtures where they displayed their resolve till the very end to first eke out a win in Mumbai and then miss out narrowly in Pune.

Sri Lanka too have brought a lot of feistiness to the series that was on abundant display during their title run in this year's Asia Cup. Dasun Shanaka has helmed the side admirably, shrugging off the disappointment of a forgettable World Cup campaign to improve the team's white-ball stocks. Expect another game of small margins at the weekend.

Team News:

India

The hosts have a decision to make in the pace department between two misfiring quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, after India's death bowling suffered in the second T20I.

Probable XI: Ishan Kishan (w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal

Sri Lanka

Dasun Shanaka, riding high on his match-winning effort, should retain the same XI that earned him series parity.

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

In the spotlight: Arshdeep Singh and Dasun Shanaka

Despite making his T20I debut only six months ago, Arshdeep Singh was supposed to be the leader of the pace attack in this new-look Indian squad. He missed the first T20I with illness, and then bowled five no-balls in two overs, which cost India 37, in the second. Overstepping has been an old issue with Arshdeep, and it is high time he fixed it.

Dasun Shanaka loves playing against India. In the opening game, his 47 off 27 balls kept Sri Lanka in the contest. On Thursday, he smashed the fastest T20I half-century by a Sri Lanka batter before picking up two wickets in the final over of the game to seal the win. His last five T20I knocks against India are 56* (22), 45 (27), 33* (18), 74* (38) and 47* (19). With ball, he has taken more than half of his T20I wickets (14 out of 23) against them. If he continues in the same vein, it will not be easy for India to keep their unbeaten streak intact.

Pitch and conditions: Run-fest in Rajkot?

The Rajkot pitch is often compared to the adjacent national highway, so be ready for another run-fest. The teams will be looking to bowl first after winning the toss as this venue favours the chasing team. It's expected to be a cool evening with clear skies; the temperature should be around 17°C.

Stats and trivia

Yuzvendra Chahal (88) needs three wickets to overtake Bhuvneshwar Kumar (90) as the highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is.

Hardik has captained India in seven T20Is so far. Thursday was the first time he finished on the losing side.

Sri Lanka have never played an international match at the SCA Stadium, Rajkot.

In his last ten T20Is, Rajapaksa has 137 runs at an average of 15.22 and a strike rate of 115.12.

Thanks Raji for the tag, i was thinking to go watch match live but backed out due to covid cases here

Quotes

"They [Sri Lanka] have got a pretty experienced T20I side in this series. From the World Cup, they haven't made too many changes to their playing XI. They've got some class players. They've got a couple of very good spinners, they have got power-hitters at the backend of the game. I think Dasun Shanaka is playing really well. They might have had some tough periods but certainly they are not a side you would take lightly at any stage."

India head coach Rahul Dravid on his opponents

"It's not about the mystery, it's always about the right line and length. If I don't hit the right line and length, they [batters] will go after me. So while bowling, I always try to focus on that. That's why I have been continuously doing well in this format.

Maheesh Theekshana reveals the method behind his mystery spin

Originally posted by: SoniRita

Thanks Raji for the tag, i was thinking to go watch match live but backed out due to covid cases here

Better safe than sorry. The numbers are on the rise every where.

Cheers..

Hardik will be on a vengeance 👍🏼

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

Good wishes for team India. ⭐️