India’s preparations for the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele faced an unexpected hurdle when vice-captain Shubman Gill woke up with a neck cramp.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav shared this update during the toss, which had already been delayed by rain, moving the start time to 7:45 PM local time.
Opting to bowl first, Suryakumar explained that the damp conditions influenced his decision to chase. With Gill unable to play, Sanju Samson was his replacement.
On the other side, Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, didn’t seem too concerned about batting first, despite needing a win to stay alive in the series after losing at the beginningT20I. The hosts made a strategic change by bringing in off-spin bowling all-rounder Ramesh Mendis for left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka.
Mendis, a recent addition to the squad due to injuries and sicknesses, has been in remarkable form. His recent performance in the LPL for Kandy Falcons saw him score an unbeaten 30 off 11 balls and claim 2 for 10, nearly turning the tables against the eventual champions, Jaffna Kings. However, seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe will have to wait longer for his international debut.
Teams:
India:
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
2. Sanju Samson
3. Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
4. Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
5. Riyan Parag
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Rinku Singh
8. Axar Patel
9. Arshdeep Singh
10. Ravi Bishnoi
11. Mohammed Siraj
Sri Lanka:
1. Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper)
2. Pathum Nissanka
3. Kusal Perera
4. Kamindu Mendis
5. Charith Asalanka (captain)
6. Dasun Shanaka
7. Wanindu Hasaranga
8. Ramesh Mendis
9. Maheesh Theekshana
10. Matheesha Pathirana
11. Asitha Fernando
As the teams prepare for this crucial match, fans are eager to see how the changed lineups will perform under the challenging weather conditions.