India having faced Sri Lanka in 18 international matches this season on home and away basis, will once again face the Dinesh Chandimal-led team in the Nidahas Trophy 2018 Twenty20 tri-series, beginning today. The hosts will meet an Indian team led by Rohit Sharma. The side is without skipper Virat Kohli and the veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni, so some youngsters will get a chance to make a name for themselves. For the youngsters chosen in the side, the aim would be to stay on the selectors' radar for next year's World Cup. For a bunch of youngsters, who will get to wear the India blues with as many as six top players being rested, would consider this a god-sent opportunity. (Live Scorecard)
On a personal front, Rohit will be itching to get back to form after a poor South Africa tour where he managed only a single hundred in the one-dayers. In the familiar territory of Premadasa Stadium, Rohit will love to come out all guns blazing in the company of Shikhar Dhawan. Suresh Raina is slowly getting back into the groove at No 3. Even though this is a T20 tournament, a good performance will keep the national selection committee interested for those limited batting slots in the middle-order and perhaps the reserve pacers. It will be interesting to see if India opt for an extra pacer or an all-rounder. In case the team wants an extra pacer then Siraj will come in or else Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar.
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The Lankan pitches and the pace trio of Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Dasun Shanaka are not expected to pose too many problems to the stylish left-hander, who was out of the side for a year owing to fitness and form-related issues.
