India host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series beginning on February 24 in Lucknow, and four Wisden writers pick the XIs they think the hosts should go in with in the first match.

The Men in Blue will have the opportunity to test their bench strength as they play without a full-strength team in the T20I series against Sri Lanka from Thursday. With Virat Kohli, Shardul Thakur and Rishabh Pant rested and Washington Sundar, KL Rahul, Deepak Chahar and Suryakumar Yadav out with injuries, expect a lot of experiments as India look to lock in the players for the T20 World Cup later this year.

Four Wisden writers pick India’s playing XI for the first T20I.

Aadya Sharma, Wisden India editor

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah

The pressure must be growing on Kishan, but I’ll have him start with Rohit – in the past, Mumbai Indians have shown that confidence is key with him. With no Kohli at No.3, Samson, India’s perennial comeback man, gets a chance. If he can get some of his IPL form going, it could help expand India’s batting options for the World Cup. Nos. 4 & 5 belong to the Iyers, with Venkatesh steadily showing his all-round utility, a much-need component for the team right now. Jadeja and Hooda make the rest of the middle order.

Further down, I’ll have Bhuvneshwar, Harshal and Bumrah as the three seamers; with Bhuvi doing well, and Harshal showing signs of what he can do at the top-most level, there would be enough cushion around Bumrah, who is returning from a break. Bishnoi has really impressed so far, and deserves a longer run, with Jadeja acting as the second spinner.

Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

The absence of a number of first-choice players almost forces me to pick Gaikwad as Kishan’s opener, though I do not necessarily see him as a long-term T20I candidate, with ODIs seemingly better-suited to his game. Rohit bats at No.3, with Samson at four. Shreyas showed sparks of his aggressive intent in the one innings he played against West Indies, and the absence of Suryakumar works out well for him.

Venkatesh has been impressive with crucial cameos in all T20Is that he has played thus far, and the return of Jadeja is welcome, as he adds the much-needed batting depth. Bishnoi pips both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav to make the XI, while the duo of Harshal and Bumrah can be a lethal pair, especially at the death. Siraj did not play a single game against West Indies, and the team should look to try him out, especially after his improved performances in the IPL.

Divy Tripathi, Wisden India staff writer

Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi

I’d like India to continue with the same opening combination as in the last game. While Rohit should open in the T20 World Cup, the two youngsters deserve a good number of chances to present the best possible case before the mega-event. Samson comes in at number five in place of the injured Suryakumar.

Jadeja and Bishnoi will be my spinners, while Bhuvneshwar will join Bumrah to form the new-ball attack. Despite his average outing in Eden Gardens, I’d like Avesh to get another chance to prove himself, while the likes of Harshal and Siraj can feature in later games.

Shubham Pandey, Wisden India social media manager

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah

India will be taking the field without the services of their five key players so it could be a good opportunity to test their bench strength and help the team to prepare solid backup options for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

In the absence of Rahul and Kohli, I will give all three games to Gaikwad and Kishan to improve their performances. Samson and Shreyas are also starting in my XI. I am eager to watch Sanju Samson getting some game time and hopefully play the brand of cricket that one associates with him.

The bowling is similar to what it was in the last game, but I’d pick Bishnoi over Chahal following Jadeja’s return.