India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I: India's predicted playing 11 in Pallekele under new coach Gautam Gambhir

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India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I: India and Sri Lanka will be locking horns in the first T20I of the three-match series on Saturday, July 27. The match will mark the start of Gautam Gambhir's tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. It will also be the first match of Suryakumar Yadav as the permanent T20I captain of the Indian cricket team.

Despite a few surprising exclusions, India have named a strong 15-member squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill has been named as the vice-captain of the team.

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are the two wicketkeeper-batters in the team, while the responsibility of the spin department has been given to Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar.

The pace department will be led by Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Khaleel Ahmed are the other three pace-bowling options.

India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I: Predicted playing XI

In the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, India are certain of opening with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Captain Suryakumar Yadav might take back the number three slot from Rishabh Pant. The wicketkeeper-batter played at number three in all the matches of T20 World Cup 2024.

There can be a toss up between Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant. Suryakumar and Gambhir will have to make a tough call as accommodating both in the playing eleven is highly unlikely. Samson smashed a match-winning fifty against Zimbabwe in his last outing, and can pip Pant. Notably, unlike Samson, Pant is in the ODI squad as well. India would also look to go with three spin-bowling options.

India's Predicted Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka in 1st T20I: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar/Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj/Khaleel Ahmed

India squad for T20I series vs Sri Lanka: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.