Sri Lanka, who lost the series opener by 38 runs on Sunday (25), will meet strong India in the second T20I today (27) under lights, from 8 p.m., at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.
Continued to be hit by the injury bug, their leading dashing top-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa is going to miss the remainder of the series due to a fractured thumb, team sources told the Morning Sports yesterday (26).
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Sadeera Samarawickrama[/caption]
The other in-form top-order bat Charith Asalanka, who struck a 26-ball 44 on Sunday, has also sustained a hamstring injury and was awaiting medical reports last evening while rookie opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, who is yet to play in the current India series, too has suffered a hand injury during net practices on Sunday.
This means that, along with Rajapaksa, both Asalanka and Nissanka too are doubtful starters for the second T20I today.
Earlier, following the defeat of the first match of the series on Sunday, Sri Lanka team sources said both Ashen Bandara and Akila Dananjaya were to be dropped for the second match of a three-match series.
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Dhananjaya Lakshan[/caption]
In place of them, the 22-year-old uncapped fast-bowling all-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan and the 25-year-old wicket-keeper-bat Sadeera Samarawickrama, who has already played seven T20Is, are likely to be included, sources added.
Bandara struggled in the middle during Sri Lanka’s runs chase on Sunday taking 19 deliveries for his nine runs while spin bowler Dhananjaya gave away 40 runs in three overs as India made 164/5 batting first.
Hardik Pandya to be dropped
Will Hardik Pandya be benched today, asked Indo media yesterday.
The Sri Lanka series was supposed to be a platform for Hardik Pandya to return to bowling and boost India’s bowling department ahead of the T20 World Cup.
However, it has turned out to be a disappointing outing from the all-rounder. All indications suggest that he can be benched for the game today, the Inside Sports reported.
Pandya has featured in all four matches of the series so far but both form and fitness has deserted him on the field. Not only he has been completely unimpressive, uncomfortable while bowling but his batting also has deserted him during the entire series, said the above report.
It added: Pandya is important part of the Indian team’s white-ball scheme of things. But Captain Shikhar Dhawan and Coach Rahul Dravid may rest him for the second T20.
Shaw, Suryakumar to leave for England soon
The Indo team management not only will have to take decision about Hardik Pandya but also about Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is arranging logistics to send the duo to England as replacement for injured Test team players now there.
“As the India’s team management in the UK is also looking to get Shaw and Suryakumar in early, there are speculations that the duo may leave as soon as BCCI can get their logistics in place. The same can happen Tuesday or Wednesday which means their availability for the game is not certain,” reports from India suggested.
According to the information available, Indian team management in Sri Lanka also feels that it will be better to play replacements in place of Shaw and Suryakumar as they may be more focussed now on the England tour.
Probable India XI:
Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw/Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav/Manish Pandey, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Varun Chakravarthy
Probable Sri Lanka XI:
Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (subject to injury), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka (Capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, and Dushmantha Chameera