The excitement surrounding Chamari Athapaththu and her team’s recent success in Dambulla stands in stark contrast to the mood in Kandy, where cricket discussions are often tinged with disappointment and frustration. The underwhelming performances of Sri Lanka’s men’s cricket team, especially evident in their recent T20 World Cup campaign in June, have been a sore spot for many supporters. As the wounds from that disastrous campaign remain fresh, Kandy is once again preparing to host the world champions, India.
For both India and Sri Lanka, who are co-hosts and therefore not required to go through the qualification process for the next edition of the T20 World Cup, this series represents the beginning of a lengthy trial run for the mega tournament. With two major ICC tournaments in different formats scheduled before the next T20 World Cup, it’s plausible that the shortest format might temporarily take a backseat. However, with new captains at the helm, neither team will want to start this new era on a sour note.
India and Sri Lanka have seen numerous players donning the captain’s armband in T20Is over recent years, albeit for different reasons. For Sri Lanka, it has often been an attempt to turn the tide of fortune, while for India, it has been about maintaining a seamless transition during a stop-gap period.
In Sri Lanka, pride might have taken a hit with recent setbacks, but moving forward, the mantle has been handed to Charith Asalanka. Coming off a season of the Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka has opted for a mixed approach by dropping some senior players while recalling others. Asalanka remains optimistic that his reshaped squad is adequately prepared to face their Asian neighbors.
On the Indian side, the stage is set for Suryakumar Yadav, the freshly appointed national captain. Leading a team that is riding high on confidence, Suryakumar’s primary challenge will be to sustain the team’s standard of success following the retirements of key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Calm and composed ahead of the series opener, Suryakumar has downplayed the changes in leadership, suggesting that “only the engine has changed, the bogeys are still the same.” However, the task at hand is easier said than done. Both Suryakumar and head coach Gautam Gambhir are relatively inexperienced in their new roles, and their early performances will be under close scrutiny. Like his Sri Lankan counterpart, Suryakumar will be hoping to make a positive impression right from the outset.
The first T20I is set for Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 7:00 PM local time at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Known for its high-scoring encounters, Pallekele hasn’t hosted many T20Is in recent years, but the conditions are expected to be pleasant yet sultry, promising a thrilling contest.
### Teams Watch:
**India:**
India has opted to rest Jasprit Bumrah and has dropped Yuzvendra Chahal, both of whom were part of the World Cup-winning squad.
. Neither Bumrah nor Chahal featured in the recent series against Zimbabwe.
– **Tactics & Matchups:** Washington Sundar could play a crucial role, especially against Kusal Perera. The Indian off-spinner has dismissed Perera three times in just 30 balls and has conceded at less than a run-a-ball.
– **Probable XI:** Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh/Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
**Sri Lanka:**
Dushmanta Chameera and Nuwan Thushara have been ruled out of the series, with Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madhushanka coming in as replacements. Additionally, Binura Fernando was hospitalized due to a chest infection, prompting Ramesh Mendis’ inclusion as a standby player. The veteran duo of Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera have also been recalled following solid performances in the Lanka Premier League.
– **Tactics & Matchups:** Dasun Shanaka could be vital with the ball, particularly against Hardik Pandya. The medium pacer has managed to dismiss Pandya three times in just 14 balls in T20Is, conceding a meager 13 runs.
– **Probable XI:** Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando.
### Did You Know?
– All eight batters in the Indian squad boast a strike rate above 140 in T20s in 2024.
– Since January 2023, Arshdeep Singh and Maheesh Theekshana have both conceded less than 7 runs per over in Powerplays.
– Wanindu Hasaranga has dismissed Sanju Samson thrice in just 11 balls, conceding only two runs.
### Quotable:
“Nothing changes. The brand of cricket remains the same. What I’ve been playing, what I’ve been doing for the team, it doesn’t change. It has given me an added responsibility. Now I’ve to walk the talk,” Suryakumar Yadav candidly stated when asked if captaincy would affect his batting approach.
The stage is set for an intriguing series, as both teams embark on this new journey under new leadership, aiming to build momentum ahead of future international challenges.