Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match Preview –

India was clinical in their display at Lucknow, and they started another T20I series with a win just like they did against New Zealand and West Indies before. Rohit and his men won the opening encounter by 62 runs, and this win was their 10^th back-to-back win in the shortest format. India has registered its 100^th win in the T20 International format.

India lost the toss, and they were invited to bat first by the Lankans. Rohit and Ishan, the two Mumbai Indians openers, gave the team a flying start. Ishan Kishan struggled against the West Indies earlier. But he was up against Sri Lanka at Lucknow. India hopes that the pocket dynamite cricketer continues his excellent form in this series. Kishan smashed his second fifty of his career yesterday.

While the skipper, Rohit Sharma, continued his excellent run in the shortest format. The Indian openers put on a 100 run stand for the opening wicket, and then Shreyas Iyer was another batter who impressed a lot in yesterday’s game. Iyer was slow to start. But once he got used to the wicket, he smashed the Lankan bowlers all over the park. Iyer scored unbeaten 57 runs from just 27 balls. That is why India set a target of 200 runs for the visitors.

The bowlers also did a fantastic job against a poor lineup of Sri Lanka. The visitors lost the wicket on the first ball of their run chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Venkatesh Iyer chipped in to dent the Lankan’s innings. Sri Lanka was restricted to just 137/6 in their 20 overs. Team India will hope that the bowlers will come good again on Friday at Dharmshala.

India could afford to experiment in the second and the last games, which will be played in the back-to-back days. Sanju Samson can open with Ishan Kishan in the next two games, and the hosts can also include Ruturaj Gaikwad in place of Deepak Hooda. The home team can also open the innings with Ruturaj Gaikwad and make Sanju Samson bat at the number three position.

Bhuvneshar Kumar can be rested, and Avesh Khan can replace him. Bumrah can make way for Mohammad Siraj, and Ravi Bhisnoi can take the place of Yuzvendra Chahal. These experiments are done with the T20 World Cup 2022 in mind. India needs a lot of options for that ICC marquee event. So they need to groom the youngsters.

Sri Lanka will want many answers after their hammering defeat in the 1^st T20I at Lucknow. Their bowling wasn’t great, and their batters faltered in a tall run chase. The visitors need runs from Dinesh Chandimal and Charitha Asalanka in the middle order. They might also need Gunathalika as their opener in place of Kamil Mishara.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Karunaratne also hold the key in the lower order batting. They need to strike with the ball as well. Dushmantha Chameera holds the key in the bowling department. The pacer needs to give early blows to the Indian top order.

Match Details –

Match – Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match

Venue – Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA)

Day/Date – Saturday, 26^th February 2022.

Timings – 7 PM IST and 1.30 PM GMT

Toss Time – 6.30 PM IST and 1 PM GMT.

TV channels – Star Sports India Networks.

Live Streaming – Disney Plus Hotstar, Fan Code, Amazon Mini TV, Vodafone TV, JIO TV, Live Cricket App, Live Ten Sports App.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Pitch Report

The track at Dharamshala has something for the fast bowlers. The team that bats first can win the match, so the toss would be crucial for both teams. The teams which have batted first won 4 out of 7 games.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Weather Report

The climate is much suited to play a good game of cricket, and the match will not have any rain interruptions.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – India’s probable Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bhisnoi, Mohammad Siraj, and Avesh Khan.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Sri Lanka’s Probable Playing XI

Pathum Nissanka, Dhanushka Gunathalika, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Lahiru Kumara

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Injury Updates

India – Ruturaj Gaikwad might make it to the playing XI after he missed the first match due to wrist pain.

Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis and Mahesh Theekshana missed the first match due to injuries. Wanindu Hasaranga has still not recovered Corona Virus. So he will miss the second match of this T20I series.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Fantasy Batsmen

Ishan Kishan – The pocket dynamite wicketkeeper-batsman of Team India did marvelously well in the 1^st game. He showed poor form against West Indies in the limited-overs series, which India won comprehensively. But looking at the larger picture, Ishan Kishan’s form will be the key at the top order for India in the upcoming World T20 in Australia. Ishan was awarded the player of the match for his excellent 89 runs knock. The youngster needs to show how consistent he can be for the team.

Dinesh Chandimal – Sri Lanka’s most experienced batter in the middle order is Dinesh Chandimal. The former skipper of the Lankan team needs to repay the faith which the selectors and Sri Lankan management have shown in him. Chandimal will have to be the glue to Sri Lanka’s middle order. If he fails, he cannot re-enter the team because talented young star all-rounders like Hasaranga can replace Chandimal in the team.

Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Fantasy Bowlers

Harshal Patel – The young star Harshal Patel has done well for RCB in the IPL, and he has repeated that form for India in the T20Is. Harshal can be the like for like replacement to Jasprit Bumrah if he is injured or not available. Harshal possesses the same qualities and skills as Bumrah. He needs more opportunities to prove his worth at the International level, and that is why Harshal needs to play all three matches in this series.

Dushmantha Chameera – The pace bowler from the Lankan side holds the key for the visitors in the next game. Chameera is an experienced pace bowler, and he needs to strike in the second T20I at Dharamshala. The pitch at HPCA Stadium will have something for the fast bowlers. So it would be an ideal wicket for Chameera to bowl. If the visitors pick up early wickets, then Sri Lanka has a slight chance of ending India’s ten matches winning streak, and for that, they will need Chameera to fire.

 Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022: India Vs Sri Lanka 2^nd T20I Match – Fantasy Team

Batters – Dinesh Chandimal, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer.

Bowler – Dushmantha Chameera, Venkatesh Iyer, and Harshal Patel

All-rounders – Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka.

Wicketkeeper – Ishan Kishan

Vice-Captain – Sanju Samson.

Captain – Charitha Asalanka.

Predictions –

India will seal the series by winning the 2nd T20 international match against Sri Lanka.