IND vs SL 1st T20I: India and Sri Lanka will face each other in the first T20I of the three-match series on Saturday, July 27. This match will mark the start of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy Team India
This will also be Suryakumar Yadav’s first match as the permanent T20I captain of the Indian cricket team. Despite some surprising exclusions, India have named a strong 15-member squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill has been named the vice-captain of the team.
Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are the two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the team, while the spin department is manned by Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar. The fast bowling department will be led by Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, while Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Khaleel Ahmed will be the three other pace bowling options.
IND vs SL 1st T20I: Probable Playing XI
In the absence of Rituraj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, India are set to open with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav might take back the number three spot from Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper-batsman played at number three in all the matches of the T20 World Cup 2024.
There might be a toss-up between Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant. Suryakumar and Gambhir will have to make a tough decision as it is extremely difficult to include both of them in the playing XI. Samson hit a match-winning half-century against Zimbabwe in his last match and he might overtake Pant. The special thing is that unlike Samson, Pant is also in the ODI squad. India would also want to go with three spin bowling options.
India’s probable playing 11 for the first T20I against Sri Lanka:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubhman Gill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar/Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj/Khalil Ahmed
Indian squad for T20I series against Sri Lanka:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubhman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wk). Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khalil Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.
