Sanju Samson dropped again as India play Rishabh Pant in first T20I vs Sri Lanka

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Sanju Samson was dropped once again as India went forward with Rishabh Pant in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.

After India were asked to bat first, newly-appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav announced that Samson, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Khaleel Ahmed have been benched.

Samson, Dube and Washington were part of India eleven in their last T20I match against Zimbabwe. Samson had scored a crucial match-winning fifty in the match.

Riyan Parag, who has also been picked in the ODI squad, found place ahead of Samson and Dube. The Assam captain will also offer a spin bowling option for India alongside Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel.

Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep are two specialist pacers, and will get support from all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

"It (the pitch) looks good and it is fine to bat first. The brand of cricket remains the same. The relationship me and him (Gambhir) have had for so many years is special. Dube, Samson, Khaleel and Washington are the four players to miss out. That (World Cup) is history, we start from scratch and it is a new challenge," Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss.

The series marks the start of Gautam Gambhir's tenure as the head coach of the senior India men's cricket team. Also, this is Suryakumar Yadav's first match as the permanent T20I captain of India.

India playing 11 for 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj