India vs Sri Lanka – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is India vs Sri Lanka taking place? Thursday 24th February, 2022 – 13:30 (UK)
Where is India vs Sri Lanka taking place? BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Ardonamau
What is the expected weather for India vs Sri Lanka? Temperatures will drop from 24c to around 21c in mostly cloudy skies
What channel is India vs Sri Lanka on? The match will televised live on Sky Sports Cricket
Where can I stream India vs Sri Lanka? The match can be streamed live via Sky Go
LAST MEETING
Sri Lanka beat India by seven wickets
THE TEAM NEWS
INDIA
- India will be eager to build on their recent series whitewash against the West Indies, although they know they have improvements to make in what is likely to be a tougher test against Sri Lanka.
- The Indians will also have to deal with some upheaval to their squad with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant both rested while Deepak Chahar and Suryakumar Yadav are late withdrawals having picked up injuries but in better news, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are among those to return.
SRI LANKA
- Sri Lanka found it tough going in their T20i series against Australia but showed some good character to avoid a series whitewash by winning the fifth and final game and they will look to build on that effort as they attempt to make it three straight wins against India in this format.
- The tourists will arrive with a quiet confidence but their hopes of a win in this opening clash have suffered a huge blow with Wanindu Hasaranga forced to sit out after he returned another positive COVID-19 test which means he is unable to enter India.
THE PREDICTION
India will be keen to build on their recent series win against West Indies as they continue to build towards the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka come into this on the back of a 4-1 loss to T20 world champions Australia and will have their work cut out after Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out for this first game at the very least. Both teams have plenty of improvement in them but despite fielding a much-changed side, the Indians should be too strong on home soil.
