Indian cricket team were defeated by Sri Lanka in the second T20I at Pune on Thursday, 5th January. The game was very thrilling but it ended in the visitors’ favour. This was Hardik Pandya’s first home loss as captain of Indian cricket T20I team. All the eyes are on the series decider as Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium will be the hosts to this epic and last T20I of the series.
But with the series on the line in Rajkot, the Indian pace attack will have to step up. India must perform as a team when batting and cannot rely on just two or three players.
India was five down and had only 57 on the board when chasing 207 in the second game before Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav orchestrated an incredible comeback. Additionally, it was the second time in the series that the top order failed to give the powerplay a strong start.
While players like Umran Malik and Shivam Mavi made an impression in the first game, those players—along with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh—were thoroughly destroyed in the second T20I by SL skipper Shanaka and company. Singh even bowled five no-balls during the match.
After India’s death bowling suffered in the second T20I, the hosts must choose between two struggling quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel.
Probable XI:Ishan Kishan (w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal
