India vs Sri Lanka 2022: 1st T20I Best Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Suryakumar Yadav set to miss the T20I series as we look at the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20I series vs Sri Lanka. 

After a successful 3-0 whitewash in the recently concluded ODI and T20I series vs West Indies, Team India now gear up for possibly their favourite opponent, Sri Lanka. The island neighbours are one team that Team India always fall back to when it comes to playing a stop-gap series.

It was only in July last year did India play a full-fledged ODI and T20I series vs Sri Lanka. While that was with a parallel B team, India under Rohit Sharma are now gearing up for a T20I and Test series. The 3-match T20I series that begins on February 24, will be followed by a 2-match Test series scheduled to begin on March 4th. 

From the squad perspective, Team India see quite a few changes from the squad that played against the West Indies a few days ago. While Virat Kohli, Shardul Thakur, and Rishabh Pant are rested, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sanju Samson return to the squad. In addition, recent injury concerns have ruled out Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar from the T20I series.  

Team India’s Official Squad for 2022 T20I Series vs Sri Lanka

Batters: Ishan Kishan (WK), Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (WK) & Shreyas Iyer

All-rounders: Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja & Venkatesh Iyer  

Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ravi Bishnoi & Yuzvendra Chahal

Coach: Rahul Dravid // Captain: Rohit Sharma // Vice-captain: Jasprit Bumrah

Match Details:

Tournament: Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022 

Type: T20I Series – 1st T20I

Where: Lucknow

When: February 24, 7 pm IST

So, with the kind of squad Team India have in place, what can be the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka? Let’s find out in this article. Meanwhile, according to Betway, India start as favourites to win the 1st T20I match with Odds in their favour. For Team India’s win, the odds are at 7/1. Whereas for Sri Lanka’s win, the odds are at 4/1.

Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Openers: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan

In the absence of KL Rahul, who is currently out of the team due to injury, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan will continue to open for Team India for the 1st T20I. The pair opened in the last series too with Ishan giving a below-par performance. He could score a meagre 71 runs from 83 balls – that’s a strike rate of less than 100 in T20I. 

Interestingly, in the absence of Suryakumar Yadav, India now have only 5 specialist batters in the squad. So, if India decide to play all 5, we can see Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan opening the innings with Rohit Sharma playing in the middle order. However, that looks unlikely for the 1st T20I. 

Middle-order: Sanju Samson & Shreyas Iyer 

The absence of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant gives Sanju Samson another chance to make a mark in international cricket. Regarded as an extreme talent, Sanju Samson has always found it difficult to get going in International cricket. But against a side like Sri Lanka, this could once again be an opportunity for him to make a mark. 

Supporting Sanju will be Shreyas Iyer, who seems to be the only core middle-order player in the team in the absence of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav. He would have a big role to play as the batting below Shreyas is slightly inexperienced. Also, an important opportunity for him to prove, he isn’t just a backup player. 

All-rounders: Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer & Ravindra Jadeja

The main question for Team India would be whether to play Ruturaj Gaikwad as an opener at the top with Rohit playing in the middle-order, or play Deepak Hooda as a finisher with Rohit Sharma continuing to play at the top for the first two T20Is at the least. Most likely, India would want not want Rohit to play in the middle-order until the series is secured. Hence, expect Deepak Hooda to make his debut today. 

In addition to Deepak, India would be very happy to see the return of Ravindra Jadeja. India’s top all-rounder has missed a few series due to injury concerns, but is now back to full strength. Along with Venkatesh Iyer, who is in brilliant form, Ravindra Jadeja increases the depth in India’s batting. 

Given the current status of the team, which is devoid of so many key players, there’s one more option that Rohit Sharma can think of for the playing 11. If Rohit Sharma trusts Venkatesh Iyer and Ravindra’s batting abilities, he can play an additional bowler in the form of Ravi Bishnoi with Harshal Patel batting at 7. Of course, this looks like a slight far fetched option. 

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah & Yuzvendra Chahal

Coming to the bowling, Team India would be bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah. Having given rest in the previous series, Jasprit Bumrah would be donning the Vice-captaincy duties. He would form a lethal bowling attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal.

However, India would miss Ravi Bishnoi’s services for the 1st T20I, who did really well in his debut series. Bishnoi can still be played if India decide to opt for him ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal. But being the lead spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal should play the 1st T20I. 

So, that completes the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka. Overall, there would be a debate on a few players to form a strong playing 11. It would be interesting to see what thought process does Rohit Sharma bring to the table. 

India vs Sri Lanka 2022: 1st T20I Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah & Yuzvendra Chahal 

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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