Prelude - India begin as favourites
That's like saying water is wet, isn't it? India aren't putting out their strongest sides, and yet the overwhelming amount of talent and skill in that line-up is unmissable. After a wretched 2017, Sri Lanka have made a positive start to 2018, winning a tri-series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Bangladesh and have also triumphed in Tests and T20Is in Bangladesh. That by no means guarantees them a shot at beating India - their strongest opponent yet this year - straightaway, but surely they can walk into the R Premadasa stadium with their chins up and a head full of hope and optimism.
Emergency situation in Sri Lanka
Just on the day of tri-series opener, news of an emergency being declared in the host nation began to surface. However, it has been assured and reassured that the host city - Colombo - will be unaffected. Here's Shirshendu's report on it.
TOSS NEWS: Dinesh Chandimal has won the toss and decides to bowl first. Says that this will be a good wicket and will stay true. India skipper Rohit Sharma too feels that this wicket will remain true for 40 overs. Rohit doesn't want to make much of the favourite tag here. Vijay Shankar will make his debut as he has been handed the cap by Ravi Shastri. India have won the toss on just 2 previous instances in 8 matches in Sri Lanka in T20Is. India have won all the 3 previous matches while chasing in Colombo.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper).
Sri Lanka Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Suranga Lakmal (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya De Silva.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(w/c), Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
click here ⇊⇊⇊
live hereCLICK
That's like saying water is wet, isn't it? India aren't putting out their strongest sides, and yet the overwhelming amount of talent and skill in that line-up is unmissable. After a wretched 2017, Sri Lanka have made a positive start to 2018, winning a tri-series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Bangladesh and have also triumphed in Tests and T20Is in Bangladesh. That by no means guarantees them a shot at beating India - their strongest opponent yet this year - straightaway, but surely they can walk into the R Premadasa stadium with their chins up and a head full of hope and optimism.
Emergency situation in Sri Lanka
Just on the day of tri-series opener, news of an emergency being declared in the host nation began to surface. However, it has been assured and reassured that the host city - Colombo - will be unaffected. Here's Shirshendu's report on it.
TOSS NEWS: Dinesh Chandimal has won the toss and decides to bowl first. Says that this will be a good wicket and will stay true. India skipper Rohit Sharma too feels that this wicket will remain true for 40 overs. Rohit doesn't want to make much of the favourite tag here. Vijay Shankar will make his debut as he has been handed the cap by Ravi Shastri. India have won the toss on just 2 previous instances in 8 matches in Sri Lanka in T20Is. India have won all the 3 previous matches while chasing in Colombo.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper).
Sri Lanka Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Suranga Lakmal (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya De Silva.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(w/c), Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
click here ⇊⇊⇊
live hereCLICK