Preview-SLvIND-3rdT20I

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Match Details

Date: July 29, 2021

Time: 8:00 pm (IST)

Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Live Ball-by-Ball Commentary: SportsTiger App

Preview

It has been a very competitive series between second-string sides of India and Sri Lanka in last few days. While the visitors clinched the ODI series 2-1, Dasun Shanaka's side have forced the 3-match T20I series into a decider and have put themselves in a position to win the series. Although Shikhar Dhawan's side turned up in the previous contest without many of their star players, they put up a good fight but there was no doubt that Sri Lanka were better on the day.

On a sluggish wicket in Colombo where all the batsmen struggled, Dhananjaya de Silva showed a lot of grit and determination to score 40* off 34 deliveries as his knock proved to be the difference between the two sides. With the series now set to be decided on Thursday, the fans can expect a high-voltage contest with so many youngsters on display on both sides, trying to prove their mettle in what could be their last opportunity to impress before the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Head-to-Head

Played: 21

Sri Lanka: 6

India: 14

No Result: 1

Team News

Sri Lanka:

The hosts are not expected to tinker with the playing XI that won the previous contest. The only place up for grabs could be the spot of Sadeera Samarawickrama.

India:

The visitors might be forced to make one change after Navdeep Saini seemed to have suffered a serious shoulder injury. Sandeep Warrier or Arshdeep Singh could be included in his place in the final T20I.

Players to watch out for:

Akila Dananjaya: The Sri Lankan spinner was at his absolute best in the 2nd T20I where he returned with figures of 2/29 in his quota of 4 overs. Akila Dananjaya bamboozled Indian batsmen with his spin bowling as he took the crucial wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Sanju Samson. With the pitch expected to be slow and sluggish once again on Thursday, Dananjaya is going to be a lethal weapon for hosts.

Varun Chakravarthy: The mystery spinner from India utilized the conditions in Colombo in style as he almost won the game for his side with his brilliant spell of bowling. Sri Lankan batsmen had no answers to Varun's smart bowling as the spinner ended the match with figures of 1/18 in 4 overs. His delivery to dismiss Sadeera Samarawickrama was the ball of the match. Varun is going to be crucial for India once again in the 3rd T20I.

Probable Playing XI

Sri Lanka:

Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka (c), Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera

India:

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk), Nitish Rana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Chetan Sakariya, Sandeep Warrier