A washed out series-opener means Shikhar Dhawan has one game less to make a statement in his quest to outperform an in-form K L Rahul, making the opener’s fortunes an interesting sub-plot of India’s second T20I against Sri Lanka at Holkar stadium today.
Dhawan, 34, is a proven performer in limited overs cricket but with age on Rahul’s side (27), time is running out for the easy-going Delhi-based cricketer to cement his place for the T20 World Cup later this year.
The left-hander’s strike rate in the shortest format has been an issue for a while and that is one thing he must address in the remaining two matches.
The fact that Dhawan is coming back from an injury, one of the many he suffered in 2019, makes his task all the more challenging.
In the year that went by, Dhawan managed 272 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 110.
Rahul, on the other hand, has made the most of his opportunities at the top and was in scintillating form in the previous limited overs series (three ODIs and three T20s) against the West Indies, scoring a hundred and three fifties in six innings.
Skipper Virat Kohli has already stated that choosing between Dhawan and Rahul will be a tough call after Rohit, who is rested from the Sri Lanka series, returns to opening the innings.
Considering not a ball was bowled in Guwahati, it is unlikely that Kohli will make changes to the playing XI, having picked three specialist pacers and two spinners for the series-opener.
India are being experimental ahead of the World Cup in October-November but the management has so far not given an opportunity to Pandey and Samson, who are likely to sit out again.
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback after four months was highly anticipated in Guwahati but rain and subsequent wet outfield played spoilsport. He is certain to get game time today with clear weather predicted in Indore.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews, one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced players alongside skipper Lasith Malinga, did not find a place in the playing XI in Guwahati with the visitors also going for three specialist pacers and two spinners. It remains to be seen if Mathews makes the team today.
Sri Lanka, who have not won a bilateral series against India across formats for more than 10 years now, will have to produce a special performance to upstage the domineering hosts here.
