IND vs SL: The start of the three-match T20 series between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled for July 27 (Friday). All three games will be played at Pallakele International Stadium. The first game will see the combination of Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir for the first time. India will enter the game as favorites, but Sri Lanka can’t be written off.
It will be a test for the new-look Indian team. The IND vs SL game will be important for India to find out some questions about the selection in the playing XI. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have retired, so India need to fill big shoes. Here, we will talk about three big questions India need to solve in the first IND vs SL T20Is.
IND vs SL: Three Areas India need to address in the Sri Lanka T20Is
1. New No. 3
Virat Kohli was irreplaceable at No. 3 in T20Is for India and performed over the years. But now India need someone who can be as consistent and can take the game long. India tried Rishabh Pant in the T20 World Cup 2024, and it worked well. So will it be Pant again or Sanju Samson? Pant brings the fearless approach and X-factor, while Samson gives you more consistency and impact. It depends on what India are thinking for the coming future.
2. Opening Pair
India have gone with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. These two opened for India in the last three games against Zimbabwe as well. These two complement each other well and bring in left-hand and right-hand combinations. But these three IND vs SL T20Is will help India find out the opening pair, which can be invested in for a long time. If these two can do well, India are likely to stick with them. So it is a good series to test the new opening pair.
3. Spin All-rounder
Jadeja has retired, so we will see Axar Patel getting regular chances now in T20Is. But there is Washington Sundar as well, which brings his off-spin to the table. He is more consistent as well and won the Player of the Tournament award in the series against Zimbabwe. So we might see both getting games if they can do well; India can give them chances along with Kuldeep Yadav or Ravi Bishnoi in the future.
Also Read: IND vs SL: 3 Indian Youngsters to watch out for in the Sri Lanka T20Is
