India vs Sri Lanka 2021: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point

India and Sri Lanka fight it out on a three-match One-day International series, starting Sunday in Colombo. While the Indian team is relatively inexperienced here, it is still formidable enough to challenge the hosts. However, what does Lanka have in store?

India vs Sri Lanka 2021 series preview: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point-ayh

Ayush Gupta

Colombo, First Published Jul 17, 2021, 4:03 PM IST

As limited-overs action returns for Team India, it is all set to take on Sri Lanka in a three-match One-Day International series starting Sunday. All matches are played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Meanwhile, the talking point has been India's squad, which is relatively inexperienced and has as many as five debutants. It is primarily due to the senior side in England preparing for the upcoming five-Test series for the Pataudi Trophy, starting next month.

Although the Indian side might look like a second-string side, it is still arduous to challenge the Lankans in their backyard, with the host set to possess its senior side. Ahead of the series, we present the series preview.

India vs Sri Lanka 2021 series preview: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point-ayh

Squad composition
As far as the Indian side is concerned, it is dominated by more batsmen than bowlers, suggesting that it would go all guns blazing at the Lankan bowlers. Also, being led by senior opener Shikhar Dhawan for the first time, it would be interesting to see how he handles things under pressure.

Notably, it won't be the first outing as skipper for Dhawan, having done in the domestic circuit, including the Indian Premier League. Furthermore, with Lanka being in a precarious form of late, Dhawan and co. moving into the series would be advantageous.

As for Lanka, it, too, possesses a relatively inexperienced side. With Dasun Shanaka being the new ODI skipper, it would be monumental for him to lead the side.

While Avishka Fernando headlines the batting, Dhananjay de Silva and Isuru Udana do the same among all-rounders. In the bowling, Lakshan Sandakan and Akila Dananjaya would be looking to make an impact.

India vs Sri Lanka 2021 series preview: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point-ayh

Strengths and weaknesses
Team India's strength would undoubtedly be its batting, especially with Dhawan and Hardik Pandya set to rule the department. Furthermore, young guns like Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Nitish Rana, Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad are talented to the fullest. It would be amusing to see how they fare in the department.

As for its weakness, it would be bowling. Although its pace department is moderately balanced, the spinners would be looking to make the most of an impact, especially Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who have been a considerable dip in form in the past few games.

For Lanka, the entire team needs to step up. Be it its batting or bowling, and even fielding for that matter, everything needs to click and has to be top-notch even if it is to stand a chance to beat this so-called second side of Team India.

ALSO READ: India vs Sri Lanka 2021- All the numbers you need to know ahead of the ODI series

Players to watch out
Dhawan: More than his batting, it would be his captaincy that would be in focus. Having already led Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals before in the IPL, he would be carrying the valuable leadership experience here with this young side.

Pandya: The explosive all-rounder failed with the bat during the now-suspended IPL. This series would be his best chance to get back unto the groove, and also with his pace bowling, as he has not been a regular bowler of late owing to workload management.

Kuldeep: The chinaman has faded away in the past few years. Although he remains in the fray for Team India as he is the only chinaman on the side, he has been heavily expensive, both in the international and domestic circuit. This series would be his last chance to solidify his place in the side, as failure to do so might lead to him falling out of favour completely.

Shanaka: The skipper has been leading the Twenty20 International side for the past two years, while the ODIs would be a new job for him. However, the experience is sure to come in handy. Meanwhile, his batting skills would need to get the job done, besides his medium-pace bowling.

India vs Sri Lanka 2021 series preview: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point-ayh

Milestones in the reckoning

Upul Tharanga needs 49 runs more to become the eighth Lankan to enter the 7,000 ODI runs club.
Chahal needs eight more wickets to become the 23rd Indian to enter the 100 ODI wickets club.

Squads
India: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (vc), Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini and Chetan Sakariya.
Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya De Silva (vc), Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Lahiru Udara, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Shiran Fernando, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Isuru Udana.

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Last Updated Jul 17, 2021, 4:03 PM IST

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India vs Sri Lanka 2021: Inexperienced, yet formidable Team India looks to prove a point

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