IND vs SL: 3 Indians who will be under pressure to perform in T20I series

India will take the stage alongside Sri Lanka for a white-ball series starting with the T20Is on January 3. The last time these two teams clashed was in the Asia Cup 2022 and it was Dasun Shanaka & co. who trumped the Men in Blue and knocked them out of the competition.

Though the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are not part of the T20I squad, India is still quite formidable under the leadership of Hardik Pandya and has the ability to outclass the Asia Cup champions.

Meanwhile, there will be certain Indian players whose performance would be under scrutiny in the upcoming series. These cricketers will need to put their best foot forward against Sri Lanka to hold on to their place in the side.

Here are three Indian players who will be under pressure to perform in the T20I series against Sri Lanka

3. Axar Patel

Axar Patel has been a proven performer for India in the white-ball circuit. The 28-year-old has strangled batters with his consistent lines and lengths and bagged 34 wickets in 37 T20Is at an economy of 7.48. On the batting front, he has provided crucial knocks slotting in at lower down the order and scored 171 runs at a strike rate of 132.55. 

However, the ace all-rounder was nowhere close to his best in the T20 World Cup 2022. Axar featured in five games at the marquee tournament and could take only three wickets at an economy of 8.62. He did not have much impact with the bat either as he scored mere nine runs for the Men in Blue. 

Axar will need to make amends soon and if not, his place in the side could be in jeopardy. He is primarily contesting for a backup spin-bowling all-rounder slot with Washington Sundar, who is in top form of late. When India faced Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series, the 23-year-old was superb with the ball and took six wickets in three games at an economy of 3.50. Also, he scored 67 runs in those outings.

Sundar’s improved showings have put added pressure on Axar and the latter would need to bring his A-game into play in the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.