Sri Lanka are favourites to lift the Nidahas Trophy 2018: Mahela Jayawardene

New Delhi, March 6: Ahead of the opening game between India and Sri Lanka in the Nidahas Trophy 2018 today, former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has billed the hosts as the favourites to lift the trophy.

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Jayawardene believes that despite the absence of two key players, the Islanders have a good chance of bettering against India and Bangladesh to keep the title for themselves.

In a column for the Times of India, Jayawardene - who played 448 ODIs, 149 ODIs and 55 T20Is for SL - said the hosts have a good chance of beating the second-string Indian side despite a weakened bowling attack.

"Given home advantage, growing confidence under coach Chandika Hathuruasingha, and the fact that India are not at full-strength, I think Sri Lanka can be fairly labelled as the favourites. But I would definitely not write off India who are blessed with strength in depth these days," wrote Jayawardene.

"It's been an encouraging start to the year for this young Sri Lanka team under the stewardship of new coach Chandika Hathurasingha. We definitely had a year to forget in 2017 but there were some positive signs during the recent tour to Bangladesh, where the team completed an unexpected clean-sweep.

This upturn in form and confidence makes the upcoming Nidahas Trophy very interesting indeed. It should be very competitive despite India resting some of their core players. The Indian young guns will be desperate to make an impression and Bangladesh will be striving to bounce back after their disappointing Sri Lanka tour."

The former captain, however, rues that their bowling attack is inexperienced and that could be a matter of concern for the hosts against a batting attack like India.

"Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera are all inexperienced in this format. It's going to be a real test of their skills and I am looking forward to seeing how they perform at critical high-pressure moments when it is very tough for the fast bowlers. The absence of Lasith [Malinga], in particular, places extra pressure on the fast bowlers," wrote the coach of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.