Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Well, well, well!
India play Sri Lanka more often than Donald Trump stirs controversy. Thought I’d write a preview anyway!
Bangladesh’s shock win over Sri Lanka two nights ago has meant that it won’t all be smooth sailing for India and Sri Lanka. Ladies and gentlemen, the Nidahas Trophy has just got a whole lot more interesting.
Can India extract some revenge for their first up loss to Sri Lanka? Can Sri Lanka bounce back after failing to defend 214 against Bangladesh? These questions add spice to a tournament that even die hard fans called meaningless. Now, it’s all to play for.
The second half of the tournament begins with all three teams sitting equal with one win out of two games. Awesome. Which team will succumb to the pressure first? India and Sri Lanka will face the music first.
Key to a Sri Lanka win
Sri Lanka’s batting has been dynamic in this tournament, but so much went wrong for them last game, being on the receiving end of Bangladesh’s highest ever chase in T20Is. What on earth went wrong for them? After players and their fans talked of their biggest “revival” in recent years, this is a huge reality check, and proof of how far Sri Lanka still have to go to become a truly dangerous team again.
Their blueprint for success in the first game against India was their efficiency in the powerplay, where they restricted the Indians to just 40 runs, and took two wickets. Against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka conceded 74, which gave Bangladesh the momentum they needed at the start of such a huge chase.
Against India, the key for Sri Lanka would be to control the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan (especially) and Suresh Raina at the top.
Key to an India win
Powerplay domination.
In the first game, India were on the wrong end of the powerplay scores. Sri Lanka smashed 75/2 after India only managed 40/2, and such a difference is almost always going to lead to one result.
India need more from their skipper Rohit Sharma who has had two failures so far in this tournament. India would also want to back up their pleasing bowling performance against Bangladesh, forcing 68 dot balls, and will also look to put the pressure on the in form Sri Lanka top order, namely the two Kusals.
Predicted teams:
There is no Dinesh Chandimal for Sri Lanka, after being suspended for two games thanks to a very slow over rate against Bangladesh. Thisara Perera will take over the captaincy, and Dananjaya de Silva will replace Chandimal. Sri Lanka’s bowlers were carted around big time against Bangladesh (the least expensive bowler for 9.25) and need a response against India.
Sri Lanka XI: 1. Kusal Mendis, 2. Danushka Gunathilaka, 3. Kusal Perera (wk), 4. Dananjaya de Silva, 5. Upul Tharanga, 6. Dasun Shanaka, 7. Thisara Perera (c), 8. Jeevan Mendia, 9. Akila Dananjaya, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Nuwan Pradeep
India should retain the same XI that won against Bangladesh, and will be hoping for the same result. Shikhar Dhawan has hit two fifties in the tournament, and is a danger for Sri Lanka, and Jaydev Unadkat will be looking to build on his performance against Bangladesh ahead of what will be a pressure-filled IPL tournament for the expensive man.
India XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Rohit Sharma (c), 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Rishabh Pant, 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Vijay Shankar, 8. Washington Sundar, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Jaydev Unadkat
Stats & Facts:
- A loss for either side will put them in a sudden death situation against Bangladesh.
- Before the first match, India had beaten Sri Lanka in seven consecutive T20Is.
- Chasing sides have won all three matches so far in the Nidahas Trophy.
Predictions:
Very difficult to pick a winner here.
Sri Lanka’s batting has been awesome, but their bowling has left them a little bruised. Can they bounce back? I’m not so sure. I feel India would have learnt a lot from their first up defeat, and backed by their promising bowling attack and Shikhar Dhawan, will win in a tight game.
Here’s hoping no rain occurs during the match.
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