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Sri Lanka are gearing up to host India for a three-match T20I series, beginning on July 27, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. This series marks a fresh chapter for the Indian team, who will be under new leadership and coaching for the first time in recent years.
Suryakumar Yadav to lead
India will debut in this series with a revamped setup, featuring former opener Gautam Gambhir as the new head coach and Suryakumar Yadav taking over the captaincy from the recently retired Rohit Sharma. This series will be significant as it will be the first outing for the Indian squad since the retirement of veteran players Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom have left a substantial legacy in Indian cricket.
India’s top-choice playing XI for the T20I series against Sri Lanka
Stylish openers:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Strength: Yashasvi Jaiswal is known for his aggressive batting style and ability to play high-impact innings from the outset. His strength lies in his natural flair and skill to dominate bowlers with his wide range of shots. His technique allows him to adapt to various conditions, and he is particularly effective against both pace and spin, making him a versatile opener.
- Role: As an opener, Jaiswal’s primary role is to give India a strong start by capitalizing on the powerplay overs. His aggressive intent helps in building momentum early in the innings, which is vital in T20 cricket. His ability to find boundaries regularly and rotate strike efficiently ensures that the scoreboard keeps ticking and puts pressure on the opposing bowlers.
Shubman Gill
- Strength: Shubman Gill is recognized for his elegant batting technique and ability to play long innings. His strength is his calmness under pressure and his ability to adapt to different match situations. Gill’s technique is solid, and he has a knack for playing crucial innings in high-pressure situations.
- Role: As an opening batter, Gill’s role is to provide stability and build a strong platform for the middle-order. His capacity to play both aggressive and anchoring roles makes him a valuable asset. Gill’s role involves anchoring the innings and ensuring that the team gets a good start while assessing the pitch conditions and building partnerships with his opening partner.
Dynamic middle-order:
Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Strength: Suryakumar Yadav is renowned for his innovative and aggressive batting. His strength lies in his ability to play unconventional shots and score quickly in the middle overs. Surya’s flair for improvisation and ability to play big shots under pressure makes him a key player in finishing innings.
- Role: As the captain and a middle-order batter, Suryakumar’s role is to accelerate the scoring rate during the middle overs and provide stability when needed. He is expected to lead by example, navigate through tricky situations, and play a decisive role in the latter stages of the innings.
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Rinku Singh/Riyan Parag
- Strength: Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag are both known for their finishing abilities and power-hitting skills. Rinku’s strength lies in his ability to play match-winning innings with a high strike rate, particularly in the final overs. Parag, on the other hand, is known for his versatility and capability to contribute both with the bat and ball.
- Role: Both players are expected to contribute significantly in the middle order. Whoever gets the chance between them, their primary role is to accelerate the scoring rate in the final overs and provide a finishing touch to the innings. Rinku’s ability to handle pressure and hit big shots makes him a key finisher, while Parag’s all-round skills provide additional flexibility in the middle order.
Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Strength: Rishabh Pant is known for his explosive batting and dynamic wicketkeeping skills. His strength lies in his aggressive approach and ability to change the game with his quick scoring. Pant’s wicketkeeping is sharp, and his ability to perform under pressure adds significant value to the team.
- Role: As a wicketkeeper-batter, Pant’s role encompasses both batting and keeping duties. He is expected to provide quick runs towards the end of the innings and manage the wicketkeeping responsibilities effectively.
Star all-rounders:
Hardik Pandya
- Strength: Hardik Pandya is renowned for his powerful hitting and effective medium-pace bowling. His strength is the ability to change the game with both bat and ball. Pandya’s aggressive batting can turn games in the final overs, while his bowling provides crucial breakthroughs and can restrict the opposition’s scoring rate. His athleticism and fielding skills further enhance his all-round capabilities.
- Role: As an all-rounder, Pandya’s role is to provide balance to the team by contributing significantly in both departments. With the bat, he is expected to finish innings with a flourish, while with the ball, his role is to offer key breakthroughs and contain runs.
Axar Patel
- Strength: Axar Patel is known for his effective left-arm spin and ability to contribute with the bat. Axar’s economical bowling and ability to pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs are his strength. Axar’s batting provides additional depth to the lower order, and his fielding adds further value to the team.
- Role: Axar’s role as an all-rounder is to offer control in the middle overs with his spin bowling and provide lower-order batting support. His ability to restrict scoring and take wickets with his left-arm spin makes him a key player in T20 cricket.
Shivam Dube
- Strength: Shivam Dube is known for his powerful hitting and useful medium-pace bowling. His strength is his ability to clear the boundary and contribute valuable runs in the lower order. Dube’s bowling provides an additional option for breaking partnerships and controlling the middle overs.
- Role: Dube’s role as an all-rounder is to add depth to the lower order with his aggressive batting and provide useful contributions with the ball. His ability to hit big shots makes him a valuable asset in the final overs, while his medium-pace bowling helps in maintaining a balanced attack.
Impressive bowling attack:
Arshdeep Singh
- Strength: Arshdeep Singh is recognized for his impressive death-overs bowling and ability to execute yorkers effectively. His strength lies in his precision and ability to bowl under pressure. Singh’s skill in containing runs and picking up crucial wickets in the final overs makes him a valuable asset in T20 matches.
- Role: As a bowler, Singh’s role is to provide effective death-overs bowling and restrict the opposition’s scoring in the final stages of the innings. His ability to execute plans under pressure and take key wickets is crucial for India’s bowling attack in T20 cricket.
Mohammed Siraj
- Strength: Mohammed Siraj is known for his pace and ability to swing the ball. His strength lies in his capacity to take early wickets and apply pressure on the opposition. Siraj’s aggressive approach and pace make him a key player in the powerplay overs.
- Role: Siraj’s role is to provide early breakthroughs and exploit the conditions with his pace. His ability to swing the ball and put pressure on the opposition’s top-order makes him a crucial component of the bowling attack. His role involves setting the tone for the innings with effective new-ball spells.
Ravi Bishnoi
- Strength: Ravi Bishnoi is known for his effective leg-spin and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations. His strength lies in his control and ability to take wickets in the middle overs. Bishnoi’s spin bowling adds variety to the attack and helps in breaking partnerships.
- Role: Bishnoi’s role as a leg-spinner is to provide control and take key wickets in the middle overs. His ability to vary his deliveries and apply pressure on the batsmen makes him an important player in T20 cricket. His spin bowling helps in containing runs and breaking crucial partnerships.
