The Sri Lankan selectors have declared the team which will clash with India at home. A 25 men team would be up against the tourists across two series of 3 T20s and 3 ODIs each. After the original captain Kusal Perera was ruled out due to injury, Dasun Shanaka has been adjudged the captain for the home team.
Sri Lanka had a terrible time in England where they lost heavily. Moreover their 3 important players had breached the COVID bio bubble and hence were sent back from the tour. This includes Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka. None of these 3 players will take part in the upcoming series.
The team declared by Sri Lanka is as follows:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya De Silva, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Udara, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando (only for T20I series), Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Shiran Fernando, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana.
Lot of new faces for home team!
With Dasun Shanaka named as captain, Dhananjaya De Silva will be the vice captain of the Sri Lankan team. Lahiru Udara, Shiran Fernando and Ishan Jayaratne are the three players that are uncapped.
Udara is a specialist batsman and strikes at 136 in 34 T20 matches in domestic cricket. Also Ishan Jayaratne is an allrounder and scores runs at 150 with the bat. Furthermore he averages 17 with the ball. Meanwhile Shiran Fernanado is a fast bowler and averages 14.8 with the ball.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Lahiru Kumara mark a return to the Sri Lankan team after a gap of close to an year. Both of them played for their country last year in limited overs format.
Other star players of the Island nation like Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews are also missing from action. Both the players are not included in the team due to fitness issues.
The first ODI match between hosts Sri Lanka and India will be played in Colombo on July 18. It will be followed by 2 more ODIs. The 3 match T20 series begins from 25 July and ends on 29 July.
