After a five match ODI series, India and Sri Lanka will change into the T20 mode when they will clash in the only T20 International to be played at Pallekele today.
India bullied the Lankan Lions throughout the ODI series and won it 4-1 and will look forward to carry on their momentum whereas for Sri Lanka they would want to make a fresh start and bring some serious amends to their disastrous limited overs campaign.
Both these teams have players tailor-made for this format and it would be required for these players to come out all guns blazing if they want to see their team end on the winnings.
Let us have a look at few players to watch out for who have in them to make a difference.
Players to watch out from the Sri Lankan team
TM Dilshan: He could breach the half century mark only once in the entire ODI series and going by his record against India in the past, that is a below par performance by the Sri Lankan opener. He is a terrific striker of the ball and one of the best batsmen when it comes to T20. Dilshan would like to make amends and would want to make a difference in today’s match.
Angelo Mathews: This Sri Lankan all-rounder is one of the best finishers in the world. He assesses the situation very well and has the ability to play according to the team’s need. Mathews is a clean striker of a cricket ball and has improved his batting a lot. And he can not only be dangerous with the bat but also with the ball as seen in the past. He is expected to play a crucial part in today’s match.
Thisara Perera: He was very effective in the first two ODI matches but has lost the rhythm since then. He leaked runs and also lost his swing. Perera was the man responsible for Sri Lanka’s win in the second match and the home team will be hoping for him to repeat his feat.
Lasith Malinga: He is one of the best bowlers when it comes to T20s. He has proved it in the past and his team would depend on him a lot. He has been tamed by the Indians off-late and his magic could not work against India in the recently concluded series, but if he gets goings thing can get very difficult for India.
Players to watch out from the Indian team:
Virat Kohli: Sri Lanka has seen a lot of this batsman and they will be very well aware of the threat he possesses. Kohli has matured as a batsman and is one of the best limited over batsmen. He scored two match-winning hundreds in the ODI series and it is the ease with which he bats that amazes everyone.
Suresh Raina: If Kohli is the hundred men for India in the ODI series, then Raina is the man who scores match winning fifties for the visiting team. Raina had three fifty plus score to his name and the best thing about his batting is that he is there till the end to finish the match. One of the best batsman when it comes to T20 matches, he definitely would pose a threat to the Lankans.
Irfan Pathan: Pathan’s, a last minute inclusion in the team for Sri Lanka tour has justified the selection and has been good. He has shared the new ball with Zaheer and has been very impressive. Since now Zaheer has been ruled out due to an injury it would be an added responsibility on him and going by for he can very take the pressure of leading the bowling attack of India. He is swinging the ball and that makes him doubly dangerous. His batting has also impressed one and all.
R Ashwin: Ashwin was very good in the one-day series. He has always bowled well against the Sri Lankan batsmen and the recent series was no different. Ashwin bowled with a lot of control and was economical throughout the series. He is a very difficult bowler to get away and it is the shortest format that Ashwin has been his best at.
Indian Sports News Network
