SL vs IND: Sri Lankan Cricket Board has announced a 19-player squad for their upcoming series against India, the tour is scheduled to start on 23rd June and will consist of 3 T20I matches followed by 3 ODI games. The series is of utmost importance for Sri Lanka as they come back after a disappointing defeat against Pakistan. Also, the series will mark India’s first One Day series after ICC’s new championship cycle has been announced. The T20Is will be played on June 23, 25 and 27, before the series moves to Pallekele for the ODIs on July 1, 4 and 7 respectively as well.
However, Sri Lanka have named the uncapped pair of legspinner Rashmi de Silva and wicketkeeper-batter Kaushani Nuthyangana for their white-ball series in Dambulla. They have made six changes to the squad that toured Pakistan, calling up left-arm seamer Tharika Sewwandi and allrounders Vishmi Gunaratne, Sathya Sandeepani and Malsha Shehani, whereas experienced wicketkeeper-batter Prasadani Weerakkody and young left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala have been dropped as well.
All-rounder Hansima Karunaratne retained her place in the squad, after coming into the team ahead of the Pakistan tour as an eleventh-hour replacement for the highly-rated batter Imesha Dulani, 20, who is currently recovering from her knee injury as well. Meanwhile, de Silva, 20, is likely to have impressed the team management during inter-squad practice games as well.
Moreover, Sandeepani will give injury cover and Shehani returned to the national team following after four years. Meanwhile, teenager Gunaratne returns to the national squad after having sat out during the Pakistan tour. Her stroke-making abilities have impressed many as well. However, the team perfectly blends youth and experience where only Harshitha Madavi, Hasini Perera, and allrounder Kavisha Dilhari, are below the age of 30 alongside others whereas there are several players who are of 30 years or older than that.
The squad is comprised of several all-rounders where only Sanjeewani, Madavi, Perera and Nuthyangana are pure batters. Captain Chamari Athapaththu, Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasuriya, Dilhari, Karunaratne, Gunaratne, Shehani and Sandeepani, can contribute with both the bat and ball. On the other hand, Udeshika Prabodhani and Oshadi Ranasinghe will lead the fast-bowling department, with Sewwandi also there. Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari will take the responsibility for spin options, alongside de Silva.
Sri Lanka squad for ODIs and T20Is against India: Chamari Athapaththu (C), Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeevani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweeram, Achini Kulasuriya, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Malsha Shehani, Ama Kanchana, Udeshika Prabodhani, Rashmi de Silva, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana, Sathya Sandeepani, Tharika Sewwandi
SL vs IND Fixtures:
Jun 23, Thu, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st T20I
Jun 25, Sat, Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd T20I
Jun 27, Mon, Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd T20I
Jul 01, Fri, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st ODI
Jul 04, Mon, Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd ODI
Jul 07, Thu, Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd ODI