India will try to win the series against Sri Lanka, eyes will be on Gill and Chahal
India will be eyeing a three-match series win over Sri Lanka in the second T20 International here on Thursday, while Shubman Gill’s performance in the powerplay will be key as he aims to stake his claim as an opening batsman with quick runs. Gill’s closest rival for the opener’s spot is Ruturaj Gaikwad and he would look to perform well so that opportunities come his way. India managed to win by two runs in the first match at the Wankhede Stadium despite failing to put up a big score.
With the ODI World Cup due this year and the T20 format not being a priority, Gill would like to avoid repeating the mistakes of his predecessors. Gill has a career strike rate of 128.74 despite playing 96 T20 matches (most in the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali) and was out of touch in his debut match as well. Having opened the innings quite a few times for Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill is now an integral part of the Gujarat Titans top-order.
However, he prefers to increase the run rate after settling down and it is this attitude that has cost Lokesh Rahul his place in the T20I team. Pandya, like every Indian captain in recent times, has promised a fearless attitude at the top of the order, but it will take every player to show one. India has a lot of talented players in the T20 format. Batsmen like Ruturaj and Rahul Tripathi are waiting for their chances. Gill and Ishan Kishan are expected to get a chance to open the innings in all the three matches of the series and their strong performances in the power play could give the later batsmen the confidence to play fearlessly.
The batting unit will look to score more runs in the second match and a lot will also depend on new vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav, who was dismissed cheaply in the first match. The Indian batsmen will have to find a way to score runs against the Sri Lankan bowlers who are heavily dependent on spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Teekshana. Both of them took two wickets for just 51 runs in eight overs together in the first match in Mumbai. Deepak Hooda and Akshar Patel impressed everyone with their batting. Captain Pandya must have been relieved by the memorable debut of fast bowler Shivam Mavi.
Pandya also impressed while bowling with the new ball. The swing of Mavi (4/22) and the pace of Umran Malik (2/27) have added variety to the bowling and both can be invested in with an eye on the 2024 T20 World Cup. The point of concern, however, is leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who may be in low spirits after missing out on the T20 World Cup. Chahal conceded 26 runs in two overs in the first match after which the captain did not give him a chance to complete his quota of overs.
Team India: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar. Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickram, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Aslanka, Dhananjay de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Mahesh Teekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Velalage , Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara.
