3rd T20I: India eye series win against Sri Lanka in Pune
Friday, 10 January 2020 (12:14 IST)
Pune: After getting 1-0 series lead in Indore, India will look to win the third and final T20I and clinch the three-match series against Sri Lanka at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, here on Friday.
India produced a clinical all-round performance to beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in Indore after the first match in Guwahati was abandoned due to a damp pitch.With the win in Indore, India ensured they can't lose the series. However, the series can still be leveled and India would want to avoid any sort of complacency, considering their ups and downs in T20 cricket in the last one year.
With fellow opener KL Rahul putting in another fine display, Shikhar Dhawan will look to come with a bang with the bat after a moderate performance in the second T20I.The left-hander, who had an average year in 2019, is in the danger of losing his spot in the team to Rahul was impressed in the T20I series against the West Indies in his absence.
With the T20 World Cup scheduled in October, Dhawan will hope to make the most of his chances to seal the second opener's spot, with Rohit Sharma, rested in this series, a sure-shot starter at the top of India's batting line-up.Meanwhile, the likes of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Pant will look to carry forward their batting form in the last match of the series.
India would be happy with bowling performances of Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur as they are looking for back-up seamers for the upcoming T20I World Cup. Saini had picked up two wickets while Thakur claimed three scalps in one over to cap off an impressive bowling display.
Spinners Washington Sundar's and Kuldeep Yadav too had a great outing against the Lanka batsmen and the hosts are likely to go with an unchanged XI in Pune.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka, who will be without the services of injured all-rounder Isuru Udana will be aiming for a better showing with both bat and ball. They will probably want to look at other options as their batting collapsed in the middle overs in Indore and they couldn't really get the scoreboard ticking.
Angelo Mathews can be brought in as he is a good option to bat at number four of five while the other batsmen can play their shots around him. The visitors might consider the possibility of a second spinner as well as Wanindu Hasaranga wasn't able to make much impact against the Indian batsmen in the second T20I.(UNI)
