The first match of the three-match T20 series between India and Sri Lanka is to be played on 27 July (Saturday) in Pallekele. Through this match, two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir will start his new innings as the head coach, while Suryakumar Yadav will start his new innings as the captain in this short format of the game. This T20 match will be played from 7.30 pm Indian time.
This T20 series is going to be of great importance for the Indian team. With Rahul Dravid as the head coach, India made it to the finals of the World Test Championship 2021-23, Cricket World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024. In the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian team also managed to win the title. In such a situation, the new head coach Gambhir will now have to take these successes to a new level. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team is also going through a phase of change and would like to give a tough fight to India. If seen, five new things are going to be seen in this T20 series.
… #𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮‘That’s good! 🧢#SLVIND , @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/KmWz84jZnP
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2024
New captains in both teams: With the end of the T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit Sharma retired from T20 International. In such a situation, Suryakumar Yadav has been made the captain of the Indian team for the T20 series against Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team has made all-rounder Charith Aslanka the captain for the T20 series. Due to poor performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga left the captaincy of the Sri Lankan T20 team.
Both teams have new coaches: Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended with the end of the T20 World Cup 2024. After Dravid, Gautam Gambhir has become the head coach of the Indian team and this is his first assignment. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) has appointed former opener Sanath Jayasuriya as the interim coach of its team. Jayasuriya will remain in this position till Sri Lanka’s tour of England in August-September.
First tour of Lanka after Kohli-Rohit’s retirement: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bid farewell to the shortest format of cricket with the title win in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, both these legends will continue to represent India in ODIs and Test cricket. The Indian team has reached Sri Lanka for the first time after Kohli-Rohit’s retirement from T20 Internationals.
All three T20 matches on the same ground: This is the first time on the Sri Lanka tour that the Indian team will play all the matches of the T20 series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Anyway, India has played only one T20 International match at Pallekele so far. Earlier, a T20 match was played between India and Sri Lanka on this ground on 7 August 2012. In that match, the Indian team won by a huge margin of 39 runs.
India’s first series against Sri Lanka while being T20 champions: For the first time, the Indian team is going to play a multi-match T20 series against Sri Lanka while being the T20 World Champion. Earlier, the first T20 match was played between India and Sri Lanka on 10 February 2009, in which India won by three wickets. At that time also the Indian team was the World Champion in T20.
India’s T20 squad for Sri Lanka tour: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khalil Ahmed and Mohammad Siraj.
Sri Lanka’s 16-man T20 squad: Charith Asalanka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Velalage, Mahesh Tikshana, Chamindu Pandinkathy, Madusinghara, Binura Fernando.
India-Sri Lanka schedule
July 27 – 1st T20, Pallekele
July 28 – 2nd T20, Pallekele
July 30 – 3rd T20, Pallekele
Aug 2 – 1st ODI, Colombo
Aug 4 – 2nd ODI, Colombo