On the back of their big win in the opening T20I, India will eye a seventh consecutive bilateral T20I series win at home when they host Sri Lanka in the second game of the three-match series, at Dharamshala on Saturday. India have a 10-match winning streak in the format, and Sri Lanka will need to produce something remarkable to halt their momentum.
The last international match at Dharamshala was played in March 2020, when rain forced abandonment of an India-South Africa ODI. Saturday's game, too, is uncertain due to forecast of shower. BBC Weather has predicted a 30 percent chance of precipitation during the match. However, the weather is set to be clear on Sunday, when the third T20I will be played at the same venue.
India are unlikely to make changes to the XI unless it is a forced one. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was unavailable for selection for the opening T20I after he had a wrist pain, has been ruled out of the series. Mayank Agarwal has been added as cover.
Sri Lanka have injury concerns as well. Maheesh Theekshana, who pulled a hamstring, has been sent back home, while Kusal Mendis remains unavailable due to hamstring issues. Wanindu Hasaranga, too, will miss the tour. He is flying back home from from Australia after recovering from Covid-19. Hence, they have added Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva to the T20I squad. Both are likely to feature in their XI on Saturday.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lahiru Kumara
Fantasy tips
- The conditions will be wet in Dharamshala and if the match takes place. Pick more fast bowlers than spinners.
- Some Indian middle-order batters did not get to bat in the first T20I. They tank shuffle the batting line-up to provide them some time in the middle.
- De Silva averages 48.66 against India with bat, and can chip in with off-spin. Pick him.