Nidahas Trophy, Match 1, Sri Lanka vs India - Match Predictions

Nidahas Trophy is all set to commence on Tuesday as three of the best Asian countries will fight it out in the shortest format of the game. The hosts Sri Lanka will be facing new-look India in the opening game at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It is a great chance for the team from the island nation to turn the tables on the Men in Blue as they have rested some of their best players for the tournament. The scars of their last tour to India would be still fresh when India had thrashed Sri Lanka across all the three formats.

Sri Lanka, led by Dinesh Chandimal, would be high on confidence after a successful tour of Bangladesh where they won the ODI tri-series and two-match T20I and Test series as well. They would want the winning momentum to take forward in this tournament as well. India will be led by the confident skipper Rohit Sharma who is yet to lose a T20I at the helm and he would be looking to keep his record intact.

Probable nature of the pitch

The whole new season in Sri Lanka and the first match of the series means it will be a belter of a track on offer in Colombo. Though the average score at the venue batting first is 155, expect some higher scores in the opening game of the series. Interestingly, the teams batting first has won 15 out of 27 matches so far at the venue. The dew might play its part during both the innings as the game will be starting in the evening. There are no chances of rain either as the clouds will be clear during the whole day.

Playing Combination

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won their last couple of T20 Internationals against Bangladesh and are most likely to go in with the same combination. Kusal Mendis has played beautifully at the top of the order and he will open the innings once again with Danushka Gunathilaka. Kusal Perera should bat at number 3 given his explosive batting credentials and the rest of the line-up can follow depending on the match situation.

Suranga Lakmal walks into the team as he is back after being rested with Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka to back him up in the all-rounders’ slot. Akila Dananjaya will play as the lead spinner in the side with another all-rounder Jeevan Mendis likely to be slotted in as the second spinner.

Probable XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (wk), Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya

India

There will be a lot of changes to the playing XI of the Indian team compared to their previous game against South Africa. The top three of the team is sorted as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will open and Suresh Raina to back them up at number 3. Manish Pandey should follow him as Dinesh Karthik is expected to be preferred as the wicket-keeper ahead of Rishabh Pant and he will also bat at 5. As far as the all-rounders are concerned, India could pick only two out of Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Washington Sundar and Deepak Hooda.

India are excruciatingly short on experience with their gun bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar rested. Jaydev Unadkat will have to lead from the front with Shardul Thakur taking up the new ball with him. Yuzvendra Chahal will continue to play as the lead spinner despite his recent non-performances in the shortest format.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Vijay Shankar, Axar Patel/ Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj

Here is what CricTracker predicts for the game:

Probable Top Performers

Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka) | Rohit Sharma (India)

Head to Head

Total matches played – 14, India won –10, Sri Lanka won – 4, No Result/ Tied – 0.

Timings of the match: 7:00 PM IST

Broadcast Details

TV – D Sport

Online Streaming: Yupp TV

The prediction is for India to win the first game and begin the series on a winning note.

You can watch the live streaming here