India vs Sri Lanka T20I Match Prediction – Who will win today’s IND vs SL match?
Another thrilling contest is on the cards between Sri Lanka and India with the series hanging in the balance.
Sri Lanka (SL) finally managed to stop the Indian juggernaut and won their first T20I in the country since 2016 to level the three-match series. The pursuit for Sri Lanka’s daunting 207-run target turned out to be a run-fest in Pune, as India (IND) went perilously near pulling off a miraculous heist.
With the series locked at tie-break, the Asian giants will lock horns at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Saturday, January 7 for a series decider. Sri Lanka has the momentum heading into the final but Hardik Pandya’s men showed they will not be easily overturned despite missing several star players.
Bowling remains a concern for the hosts, especially the young pace battery which was put under a lot of pressure in the previous encounter. Talented left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh will look to make amends in the T20I final after a horror show in Pune
Match details
Venue: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
Date and Time: 7th January, 19:00 IST
Telecast & Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium surface is a batsman’s friend with an average first-innings score of 179 runs. However, the pacers are expected to get some help with the new ball, making life difficult for the batsmen. The team that wins the toss will be favored to bat first due to the nature of the surface.
Likely playing XI
India:
Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, and Yuzvendra Chahal are among the players who will start for Ishan Kishan.
Bench: Sundar, Harshal Patel, Mukesh Kumar, Ruturaj Gaikwad
Sri Lanka:
Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c),
Bench: Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Nuwan Thushara, Sadeera Samarawickrama
IND vs SL Head to Head
Overall
Matches – 28, India – 18, Sri Lanka – 9, N/R – 1, Draw – 0
in India
Matches – 16, India – 12, Sri Lanka – 3, N/R – 1, Draw – 0
Arguably the best batsman of the match
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka):
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka’s love affair with the Indian team continued in the second T20I as he crushed the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground and scored the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in a T20I. He has been in tremendous form with the bat and the hosts will have to find a way to keep him quiet in the series decider, which seems unlikely at the moment.
Probably the best bowler of the match
Umran Malik (India)
There’s a new speedster on the blocks and he’s terrorizing batters one play after another. Umran Malik might go for runs, but he provides wicket opportunities to his captain Hardik Pandya, making him an invaluable asset. He scalped three wickets in the second T20I, with Wanindu Hasaranga’s wicket being the highlight of his spell as he sent the Sri Lankan spinner’s stumps for a walk.