India Playing XI vs SL: IND vs SL 1st T20 – Team India begin the new year in Mumbai with Hardik Pandya’s…
India Playing XI vs SL: IND vs SL 1st T20 – Team India begin the new year in Mumbai with Hardik Pandya’s Men in Blue facing SriLanka on January 3rd. The series marks the start of India’s T20 reboot, with a young squad facing the Asia Cup champions. Hardik as skipper and coach Rahul Dravid will have some tough calls to make after being spoilt for choices. Follow India vs SriLanka LIVE Updates on Insidesport.IN
India Playing XI vs SL: Spoilt for choices, Hardik Pandya & Rahul Dravid PUZZLED with team selection, Follow IND vs SL 1st T20 LIVE Updates
IND Playing XI vs SL: Hardik Pandya has some tough calls to make as India begin their T20 reboot starting with the SriLanka series. With no Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, India will have to fill the top 3 and have a plethora of options to choose from.
Ishan Kishan, who has largely served as a backup, will take up an opening slot. The left-hander is in a rich vein of form, scoring a double hundred in Bangladesh. He followed it up with a quick-fire century in Ranji Trophy as well. While the Mumbai Indians star has had an up-and-down T20I career, he is still likely to be persisted with on current form.
IND vs SL 1st T20: Probable India Playing XI vs SriLanka
- Ishan Kishan
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Sanju Samson
- Hardik Pandya
- Washington Sundar
- Axar Patel
- Harshal Patel
- Umran Malik
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh
Things get tricky for Hardik with Kishan’s opening partner. Ruturaj Gaikwad is first in line but has failed to live up to his potential in his few starts for India. Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi are other options but are yet to make their T20I debuts. Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson also present as options but are likely to occupy middle-order spots.
After an unstoppable year, Suryakumar Yadav is set to bat at No.3. Now vice-captain, Surya scored a century against New Zealand and will aim to continue his good form into 2023. Sanju Samson is set to slot in at No.4, a role he plays at IPL side Rajasthan Royals. Hardik Pandya will bat at No.5, dovetailing the roles of a middle-order enforcer and finisher.
Looking after his players and giving them the confidence – @hardikpandya7 has a 💪captaincy mantra! 🙌
Watch him lead #TeamIndia against 🇱🇰 in #T20I from Jan 3 and catch-up with him on #FollowTheBlues–
Every Sunday, 9 AM | Star Sports Network pic.twitter.com/erPQenxBgC
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 31, 2022
IND vs SL 1st T20: Rahul Dravid, Hardik Pandya spoilt for choices
- Rahul Dravid and Hardik Pandya have a lot of options to choose their Playing Xi.
- Ishan Kishan is India’s most experienced opener with Rohit and KL out.
- Gaikwad, Tripathi and Gill are all fighting for a solitary spot on the side.
- Surya, Hardik and Samson pick themselves in the middle order.
- Deepak Hooda is also set to be benched with Washington Sundar returning.
- Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar will also have to wait for their debuts.
- Arshdeep Singh, Umran and Harshal Patel will spearhead the attack.
- Axar and Chahal will take up the spin bowling mantle.
With Wankhede being a batting-friendly surface, India are likely to pack more bowling resources. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel could thus slot in as pure all-rounders. Sundar showed glimpses of his finishing ability in NewZealand while Axar himself is a competent bat. With Harshal Patel to follow, India have enough batting depth under its disposal.
Umran Malik returns to the T20I set-up and is sure to feature. The pacy track at Wankhede should aid his quick bowling and he will hope to be a menace against the SriLanka batters. Incidentally, it will be his first game in India colours at home. Yuzvendra Chahal returns as India’s No.1 spinner. He featured in NewZealand T20is and will keep his place in the side. Arshdeep Singh is also nailed on after a stellar debut year.
India Playing XI vs SL: Spoilt for choices, Hardik Pandya & Rahul Dravid PUZZLED with team selection, Follow IND vs SL 1st T20 LIVE Updates
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow India vs SriLanka LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
