More excitement in the air as new year begins in a few days with India back home after being away for a long time and this will please the Indian fans. India host Sri Lanka at home for 3 T20Is followed by 3 ODIs and the fans would love to fill up the seats again as home season begins for the Men in Blue.
There are a few unavailabilities for the Indian side with the likes of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli opting for a break and I don’t think that is a bad thing as they have just been to Bangladesh in a tough Test series. Rohit Sharma is not playing the T20s either but I am looking forward to see how he makes a comeback as he is currently healing his thumb. He is in the squad for the ODIs but it will be interesting to see how fit he is for the first ODI. The thumb injury can take longer than what one may think.
The other question mark for me is Jasprit Bumrah. He missed out on T20 World Cup and the following tournaments. India need him back, knowing that there is a lot of cricket coming up at home. Not to forget, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which is not far away.
Ravindra Jadeja is another injured cricketer from India who is an important member of the setup. Let’s see how quickly can he make an entry into the Indian team. I think the selectors are going to give these guys ample time to get fitter and not risk them to ensure they are ready for Australia Test series.
India need to ascertain their starting 12
It is understandable that with so much cricket and injuries around, it is right to rotate players. But I still feel that India need to manage players better. Yes, they have a lot of depth but they need to have their starting 12 in mind. The set of players who should be ready for one format.
There is so much exciting talent everywhere across the board. From the Asia Cup to the Bangladesh ODIs, India have tried so many players which shows their depth. They have so many options that big players can sit out and India would still be a tough side to beat. They have a powerful squad of 30 which most teams in the world can only dream of.
This Indian squad for the T20Is vs Sri Lanka is no different. It is full of promising young talent with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi and Shubman Gill in there. Shivam Mavi has received a call up, he is an exciting all-rounder and would be itching to do well in national colours. Washington Sundar played well in New Zealand and will aim to continue the good work. Good to see Harshal Patel back in the mix and there is Umran Malik too who would be a sight to watch.
Looking at this squad, it seems the selectors are trying to give youngsters a good run ahead of the ODI World Cup that India are to host later this year. Yes, this is a different format but if players perform, the numbers can do massive favour to their 50-over chances as well.
It will be fascinating to see Hardik Pandya, the captain also. Rohit is missing in this series and Hardik is the right replacement as far as leadership role is concerned. He has shown growth as a leader, starting from IPL 2022 to Ireland series and then in New Zealand, where India beat Black Caps in a rain-affected T20I series.
Coming to Sri Lanka, they are just done with Lanka Premier League, where some of their big players did not really shine. We all know Bhanuka Rajapaksa is brilliant and can shine bright, bash the ball. He is little out of form but watch out for him as he will be hungry for runs. This India tour is a good time for some of the Sri Lanka’s youngsters to make a name for themselves. There is Nuwan Thushara, Dunith Wellalage and other youngsters would be looking forward to touring India.
Not to forget, the LPL was postponed from July to December, which has worked to the benefit of the Sri Lankan players as they have got nice match practice heading into the bilateral series. The LPL has helped them move past the disappointment of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and get ready for the bilateral series in India.
It is true that Sri Lanka will be banking on their spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga. A lot riding on their shoulders, in the 8 overs that they bowl together. They need to lead the bowling attack.
At the same time, the quick bowlers will need to chip in too. I am interested to see how Dilshan Madushanka goes. He brings in the left-arm seam option and could be a threat for the Indian batters if he hits the right notes.
India, at home, would be tough to beat even without Kohlis and Rohits but hoping for a tough battle in the first T20I series of the year.
