India vs Sri Lanka 3-match T20 series starting today
India vs Sri Lanka T20 series ahead of T20 World Cup 2016
India has to outperform in T20 3-match series to stay at number one ICC ranking
India and Sri Lanka are playing two matches today. The first one is happening in Bangladesh. It is Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2016 semi-final. The second one is the first match of India vs Sri Lanka in 3-match T20 series. The 3-match T20 series against Sri Lanka has come just ahead of the T20 World Cup. It is a good time for India to demonstrate excellent performance for two reasons. To stay on top of the T20 ICC Ranking India must win all of the three matches. It is also important to outperform to keep their hopes alive to grab the T20 World Cup championship. In U-19 Cricket World Cup, if India wins against Sri Lanka in the semi-final then the hopes to grab the championship for the fourth time will stay intact. The chances of winning U19 semi-final are high as India has made 243 for 6 in 47 overs.Overall the T20 3-match series is going to be fantastico in all respects.
Dickwella replaces injured Dilshan for first T20 © AFP
The first match is scheduled for today to be played at Pune starts at 1930 hours. Captain and wicketkeeper Mahender Singh Dhoni has to perform well in the series. The team is a mix of newcomers and legendaries. JJ Bumrah, P Negi, M K Pandey, HH Pandya are the least experienced players on the team but are quite promising. Although they have not been exposed much with a senior cap on global arena but they carry a lot of fire in their bellies. The spin section will bank on R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja. Yuvraj also can help in getting a breakthrough at the critical junctures of the match. Ashish Nehra and B Kumar will have to command the opening bowling. Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shikhar Dhawan are in special batsmen bucket. Dhoni, Yuvraj, Jadeja, Pandey, Ashwin can speed up the run-rate at the middle and lower middle level. Even Harbhajan Singh sparks in batting at times. A 200+ score is always safe. If India is batting first, they should set a target of 200 or above. A high score helps provides an extra boost to bowling and fielding section.
Uncapped allrounder Pawan Negi was called up to India's T20 squad
for the series against Sri Lanka © BCCI
Stalwarts like Tilakratne Dilshan, Chandimal, Perera, Fernando, Gunaratne and Kapugadera are there on the Sri Lankan side to give India a tough fight. The team winning the first match today in the India Vs Sri Lanka T20 Series will have an upper edge in rest of the two matches. Since the series is just before the T20 World Cup 2016, India has to play well in this T20 series. The match is at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Overall, the Sri Lankan side is less experienced if compared to the Indian team. The second T20 is in Ranchi on February 12. The third and final T20 match will be played at Vishakhapatnam on February 14. Overall, it is going to be a fantastico T20 series against neighbor Sri Lanka.
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