The Indian team will be hosting Sri Lanka in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/indvsl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first T20I match</a> at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (January 3) and it will be followed by two more T20Is. The Men in Blue return to action after their embarrassing 2-1 defeat in ODIs during the recent Bangladesh tour.

The selectors have made some big changes to India's squad for the Sri Lanka series with Hardik Pandya set to lead the unit in the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Virat Kohli is a big name that won't feature in the squad.

With Rohit and Rahul missing the series, it's likely that Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will open for India with Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Deepak Hooda batting in the middle order.

Pacers Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have been included in the squad but are unlikely to make their debut on Tuesday. Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Umran Malik are likely to lead India's pace attack, and Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar will most likely be India's spin options.

India's Predicted playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka:

Openers – Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ishan Kishan enters the series after smashing 210 runs off just 131 balls against Bangladesh in the third ODI last month. Ishan has struggled for consistency in T20Is with just 589 runs from 21 innings at an average of 29.45 and an underwhelming strike rate of 129.16 but his latest double-century outing is likely to boost his confidence ahead of the opening match.

Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to international cricket after sensational performances in the domestic circuit. He has scored just 135 runs in nine T20I innings and was not a part of the squad that played either in the T20 World Cup 2022 or in the last T20I series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/ind-vs-sl-3-players-from-new-zealand-tour-who-have-been-dropped-from-t20i-squad-0176/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a> in November.

But he won the Player of the Tournament in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 after scoring 660 runs in just five innings and is likely to start ahead of Shubman Gill, who is yet to play a T20I game.

Middle Order - Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda

In the absence of star batter Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to get promoted to the crucial number three position in the opening match on Tuesday. Suryakumar was the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket in 2022 with 1164 runs in 31 innings at an average of 46.56 and an impressive strike rate of 187.43. The world no.1 T20I batter has also been named India's vice-captain for this T20I series.

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rishabh-pant-or-sanju-samson-sushma-verma-tries-to-make-sense-of-india-wicketkeeper-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> has been included in the T20I squad and will most likely be donning the wicketkeeping gloves in this series. He last played a T20I game in August 2022 during India's tour of the West Indies. Samson has only represented India in 16 T20Is despite making his debut in 2015. He is likely to play at the number five position with captain Hardik Pandya playing at number four.

Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi are likely to fight for the sixth position but the former is likely to keep his place in the XI. Deepak scored only nine runs in two innings against New Zealand in India's last T20I outings in November but has good numbers in T20 cricket. Rahul Tripathi has been around India's T20I squad for the last few months but is yet to make his T20I debut due to fierce competition for places.&nbsp;

All-rounders - Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar

Hardik continues to carry the captain's armband after being rested from India's latest ODI series against Bangladesh last month. The star all-rounder is likely to play at number four position ahead of the likes of Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda and is also likely to bowl a few overs.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ranji-trophy-2022-23-sai-sudharsan-reveals-his-bond-with-washington-sundar-since-school-cricket-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Sundar</a> is likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel for the spin all-rounder position in the first T20I. Axar was India's least effective bowler during the T20 World Cup 2022 with just three wickets at an expensive economy rate of 8.62 while Sundar was impressive with both bat and ball in the latest ODIs against Bangladesh.

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

Harshal Patel's inclusion comes as a surprise to many as the player failed to make a single appearance during India's T20 World Cup 2022 campaign and was restricted to just one T20I outing against New Zealand in India's last series. He has taken 27 wickets across 24 T20Is at an alarming economy rate of 9.13 but will be India's most experienced pacer against Sri Lanka and will play at the number eight position.

Despite being in and out of the playing XI, Yuzvendra Chahal was India's leading spin wicket-taker in T20Is in 2022 with 23 wickets. He failed to make any appearances in the T20 World Cup 2022 but played both T20Is against New Zealand in November.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arshdeep Singh</a> enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022 and has established himself as India's key pacer in T20Is. Arshdeep took 33 wickets in 21 T20I innings since making his debut in July 2022 and was India's second-most leading wicket-taker in 2022, just four wickets behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37).

With Mukesh Kumar and Shivam Mavi in the team, Umran Malik, who is yet to make an impact in international cricket, will face some real competition for the last bowling position in this series. But the management is likely to go ahead with Umran as his pace can hurry batters.

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The Indian team will be hosting Sri Lanka in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/indvsl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first T20I match</a> at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (January 3) and it will be followed by two more T20Is. The Men in Blue return to action after their embarrassing 2-1 defeat in ODIs during the recent Bangladesh tour.
The selectors have made some big changes to India's squad for the Sri Lanka series with Hardik Pandya set to lead the unit in the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Virat Kohli is a big name that won't feature in the squad.
With Rohit and Rahul missing the series, it's likely that Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will open for India with Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Deepak Hooda batting in the middle order.
Pacers Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have been included in the squad but are unlikely to make their debut on Tuesday. Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Umran Malik are likely to lead India's pace attack, and Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar will most likely be India's spin options.
<h3>India's Predicted playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka:</h3>
<h3>Openers – Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670677494318_Ishan-Kishan2.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Ishan Kishan enters the series after smashing 210 runs off just 131 balls against Bangladesh in the third ODI last month. Ishan has struggled for consistency in T20Is with just 589 runs from 21 innings at an average of 29.45 and an underwhelming strike rate of 129.16 but his latest double-century outing is likely to boost his confidence ahead of the opening match.
Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to international cricket after sensational performances in the domestic circuit. He has scored just 135 runs in nine T20I innings and was not a part of the squad that played either in the T20 World Cup 2022 or in the last T20I series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/ind-vs-sl-3-players-from-new-zealand-tour-who-have-been-dropped-from-t20i-squad-0176/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a> in November.
But he won the Player of the Tournament in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 after scoring 660 runs in just five innings and is likely to start ahead of Shubman Gill, who is yet to play a T20I game.


<h3>Middle Order - Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1669046175777_Suryakumar-Yadav-2.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
In the absence of star batter Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to get promoted to the crucial number three position in the opening match on Tuesday. Suryakumar was the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket in 2022 with 1164 runs in 31 innings at an average of 46.56 and an impressive strike rate of 187.43. The world no.1 T20I batter has also been named India's vice-captain for this T20I series.
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rishabh-pant-or-sanju-samson-sushma-verma-tries-to-make-sense-of-india-wicketkeeper-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> has been included in the T20I squad and will most likely be donning the wicketkeeping gloves in this series. He last played a T20I game in August 2022 during India's tour of the West Indies. Samson has only represented India in 16 T20Is despite making his debut in 2015. He is likely to play at the number five position with captain Hardik Pandya playing at number four.
Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi are likely to fight for the sixth position but the former is likely to keep his place in the XI. Deepak scored only nine runs in two innings against New Zealand in India's last T20I outings in November but has good numbers in T20 cricket. Rahul Tripathi has been around India's T20I squad for the last few months but is yet to make his T20I debut due to fierce competition for places.&nbsp;


<h3>All-rounders - Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1666673315952_Hardik-Pandya.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Hardik continues to carry the captain's armband after being rested from India's latest ODI series against Bangladesh last month. The star all-rounder is likely to play at number four position ahead of the likes of Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda and is also likely to bowl a few overs.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ranji-trophy-2022-23-sai-sudharsan-reveals-his-bond-with-washington-sundar-since-school-cricket-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Sundar</a> is likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel for the spin all-rounder position in the first T20I. Axar was India's least effective bowler during the T20 World Cup 2022 with just three wickets at an expensive economy rate of 8.62 while Sundar was impressive with both bat and ball in the latest ODIs against Bangladesh.

<h3>Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670415584767_Umran-Malik-celebration.jpeg" alt width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
Harshal Patel's inclusion comes as a surprise to many as the player failed to make a single appearance during India's T20 World Cup 2022 campaign and was restricted to just one T20I outing against New Zealand in India's last series. He has taken 27 wickets across 24 T20Is at an alarming economy rate of 9.13 but will be India's most experienced pacer against Sri Lanka and will play at the number eight position.
Despite being in and out of the playing XI, Yuzvendra Chahal was India's leading spin wicket-taker in T20Is in 2022 with 23 wickets. He failed to make any appearances in the T20 World Cup 2022 but played both T20Is against New Zealand in November.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arshdeep Singh</a> enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022 and has established himself as India's key pacer in T20Is. Arshdeep took 33 wickets in 21 T20I innings since making his debut in July 2022 and was India's second-most leading wicket-taker in 2022, just four wickets behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37).
With Mukesh Kumar and Shivam Mavi in the team, Umran Malik, who is yet to make an impact in international cricket, will face some real competition for the last bowling position in this series. But the management is likely to go ahead with Umran as his pace can hurry batters.

The Indian team will be hosting Sri Lanka in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/indvsl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first T20I match</a> at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (January 3) and it will be followed by two more T20Is. The Men in Blue return to action after their embarrassing 2-1 defeat in ODIs during the recent Bangladesh tour.
The selectors have made some big changes to India's squad for the Sri Lanka series with Hardik Pandya set to lead the unit in the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Virat Kohli is a big name that won't feature in the squad.
With Rohit and Rahul missing the series, it's likely that Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad will open for India with Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Deepak Hooda batting in the middle order.
Pacers Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar have been included in the squad but are unlikely to make their debut on Tuesday. Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Umran Malik are likely to lead India's pace attack, and Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar will most likely be India's spin options.
<h3>India's Predicted playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka:</h3>
<h3>Openers – Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670677494318_Ishan-Kishan2.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Ishan Kishan enters the series after smashing 210 runs off just 131 balls against Bangladesh in the third ODI last month. Ishan has struggled for consistency in T20Is with just 589 runs from 21 innings at an average of 29.45 and an underwhelming strike rate of 129.16 but his latest double-century outing is likely to boost his confidence ahead of the opening match.
Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to international cricket after sensational performances in the domestic circuit. He has scored just 135 runs in nine T20I innings and was not a part of the squad that played either in the T20 World Cup 2022 or in the last T20I series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-analysis/ind-vs-sl-3-players-from-new-zealand-tour-who-have-been-dropped-from-t20i-squad-0176/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a> in November.
But he won the Player of the Tournament in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 after scoring 660 runs in just five innings and is likely to start ahead of Shubman Gill, who is yet to play a T20I game.


<h3>Middle Order - Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1669046175777_Suryakumar-Yadav-2.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
In the absence of star batter Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to get promoted to the crucial number three position in the opening match on Tuesday. Suryakumar was the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket in 2022 with 1164 runs in 31 innings at an average of 46.56 and an impressive strike rate of 187.43. The world no.1 T20I batter has also been named India's vice-captain for this T20I series.
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/rishabh-pant-or-sanju-samson-sushma-verma-tries-to-make-sense-of-india-wicketkeeper-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a> has been included in the T20I squad and will most likely be donning the wicketkeeping gloves in this series. He last played a T20I game in August 2022 during India's tour of the West Indies. Samson has only represented India in 16 T20Is despite making his debut in 2015. He is likely to play at the number five position with captain Hardik Pandya playing at number four.
Deepak Hooda and Rahul Tripathi are likely to fight for the sixth position but the former is likely to keep his place in the XI. Deepak scored only nine runs in two innings against New Zealand in India's last T20I outings in November but has good numbers in T20 cricket. Rahul Tripathi has been around India's T20I squad for the last few months but is yet to make his T20I debut due to fierce competition for places.&nbsp;


<h3>All-rounders - Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1666673315952_Hardik-Pandya.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Hardik continues to carry the captain's armband after being rested from India's latest ODI series against Bangladesh last month. The star all-rounder is likely to play at number four position ahead of the likes of Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda and is also likely to bowl a few overs.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ranji-trophy-2022-23-sai-sudharsan-reveals-his-bond-with-washington-sundar-since-school-cricket-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Sundar</a> is likely to get a nod ahead of Axar Patel for the spin all-rounder position in the first T20I. Axar was India's least effective bowler during the T20 World Cup 2022 with just three wickets at an expensive economy rate of 8.62 while Sundar was impressive with both bat and ball in the latest ODIs against Bangladesh.

<h3>Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670415584767_Umran-Malik-celebration.jpeg" alt="" width="640" loading="lazy">
Harshal Patel's inclusion comes as a surprise to many as the player failed to make a single appearance during India's T20 World Cup 2022 campaign and was restricted to just one T20I outing against New Zealand in India's last series. He has taken 27 wickets across 24 T20Is at an alarming economy rate of 9.13 but will be India's most experienced pacer against Sri Lanka and will play at the number eight position.
Despite being in and out of the playing XI, Yuzvendra Chahal was India's leading spin wicket-taker in T20Is in 2022 with 23 wickets. He failed to make any appearances in the T20 World Cup 2022 but played both T20Is against New Zealand in November.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/icc-announce-nominees-for-mens-emerging-cricketer-of-the-year-arshdeep-singh-sole-indian-on-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arshdeep Singh</a> enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022 and has established himself as India's key pacer in T20Is. Arshdeep took 33 wickets in 21 T20I innings since making his debut in July 2022 and was India's second-most leading wicket-taker in 2022, just four wickets behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37).
With Mukesh Kumar and Shivam Mavi in the team, Umran Malik, who is yet to make an impact in international cricket, will face some real competition for the last bowling position in this series. But the management is likely to go ahead with Umran as his pace can hurry batters.

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The Indian team will be hosting Sri Lanka in the first T20I match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (January 3) and it will be followed by two more T20Is. The Men in Blue return to action a

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