Sri Lanka vs India: India’s Predicted Playing XI for 2nd T20I

After clinching the ODI series 2-1, Team India extended their purple patch and walked away with a 38-run win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. The victory certainly didn’t come easy for the visitors as the Lankan Lions put up a commendable fight in Colombo. Batting first, the Men in Blue posted 164/5 thanks to a brilliant half-century from Surykumar Yadav, and handy contributions from skipper Shikhar Dhawan (46) and Sanju Samson (27).

In reply, the home team lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Charith Asalanka didn’t put his guards down and kept his side in the hunt. The youngster scored runs all over the park to spice up the contest. However, Asalanka departed in the 16th over and India’s win became inevitable. Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was India’s stand-out performer with the ball, scalping a four-wicket haul.

Meanwhile, India are now 1-0 up in the three-match series. While they would like to seal the deal in the next game, Sri Lanka would be raring to bounce back.

Here is India’s predicted XI for the second T20I against Sri Lanka:

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw

Expectations were sky high from Prithvi Shaw ahead of the first T20I but the youngster couldn’t rise to the occasion. He bagged a golden duck on his T20I debut and fans weren’t amused. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old scored a couple of quick-fire 40s in the ODI series and the same should keep him in the team. However, Shaw can’t afford many failures with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikka warming the benches.

The other opening slot will be occupied by skipper Shikhar Dhawan. The veteran got a brilliant start in the previous game but he couldn’t convert it into a big knock. Hence, Dhawan would be determined to put up a better show in the upcoming contest.

Middle Order and Wicket-keeper: Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan

India’s middle-order did well in the last game and no changes are expected in this department. As mentioned above, Suryakumar Yadav extended his purple patch and registered a stunning fifty in the first game. Although the track had some assistance for bowlers, Yadav paced his innings to perfection and gave a tough time to the home team. His Mumbai Indians teammate Ishan Kishan also didn’t do much wrong.

Batting at number five, the southpaw played a brilliant 20-run cameo to bolster India’s total. Kishan also did well behind the stumps in the game. Sanju Samson is the other player featuring in India’s middle order. He didn’t look in much trouble during his stay at the crease. However, his tendency of throwing away good starts haunted him again as Samson went back after scoring 27 runs.

All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya

Although India have a lot of positives to take out from this tour, Hardik Pandya’s form isn’t one of them. The dashing all-rounder put up another mediocre show in the first T20I which concerned many Indian supporters. He scored 10 off 12 balls while batting first. With the ball, the pacer conceded 17 runs in two overs alongside taking a wicket.

These performances don’t go with Hardik’s caliber and the all-rounder would be raring to bounce back. Meanwhile, the senior Pandya, Krunal, has been brilliant in this tour. After shining in the ODI series, the left-arm spinner bowled an impressive spell in the first game as well. Not to forget, his big-hitting prowess can also trouble oppositions.

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy

Besides Shaw, Varun Chakravarthy was India’s other debutant in the game. The mystery spinner did considerably well in his maiden Team India assignment as Lankan batters found him hard to tackle. As a result, he gave away just 28 runs from four overs alongside taking a wicket. His fellow leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also did exceptionally well by taking a wicket at an economy rate of below 5.

The remaining two spots in the playing XI will be occupied by pacers Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The former was brilliant in particular in the last game as the Lankan Lions couldn’t do much against him. The Indian vice-captain kept the scoring rate down and also scalped four wickets in the team. Meanwhile, Chahar also got a couple of scalps and he won’t mind replicating his heroics.

India’s Predicted XI for 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy