The three T20Is against Sri Lanka is India’s final fixture in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup and it could answer big questions, writes Rohit Sankar.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Sri Lanka’s T20I side — even ignoring the remote possibility that they themselves might field a second-string side — is pretty average, and India’s A side should be good enough to whitewash this series (sorry, Arjuna Ranatunga). That said, identifying talent, and plugging holes in the T20I squad is of the utmost priority for India. With several first-choice stars absent in England, they have the opportunity to test fringe players in key roles, figure out who their best back-ups are, and perhaps even see who can push for a starting berth.

Who takes the opening slot with Rohit?

Rohit Sharma has gone through three partners at the top in T20Is since 2017 — Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli — and each of them are in with a chance to nail down that spot. However, in this series, with Rohit absent, Dhawan is likely to get six straight games across two formats to seal his place.

There are six candidates in the squad to partner Dhawan, and at least a couple of them will get opportunities. That might not catapult them into India’s T20I XI, but it could help them make a case for the larger T20 World Cup squad. There have also been questioned raised as to whether Rohit is indeed one of the two best openers in the country in this format, and while the white-ball great will start India’s World Cup campaign, identifying the next in line could prove important.

Who partners Jasprit Bumrah in the death?

The home series against England saw Bhuvneshwar Kumar return to his best, and even if for a brief moment it seemed like India’s concerns about their pace options outside of Bumrah were sorted. But Bhuvneshwar went down injured in the IPL after an ordinary few games, and the debate has raised its head once more. From T Natarajan to Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed, India have tested several options in the pace department, but a death bowler who can amplify the impact of Bumrah is something India sorely need.

This tour is another chance for Bhuvneshwar to stake his claim, and there’s new competition too. Chetan Sakariya, who impressed at Rajasthan Royals, Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar are the only frontline pacers in the main squad and have a golden chance to make this Sri Lanka tour a memorable one.

Who is India’s frontline wrist-spinner?

Four wrist-spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy have made it to Sri Lanka as part of the limited-overs squad. While Chahal has been the frontrunner in the T20I spin department, his performances have taken a hit of late, and heading into the World Cup, that spot is up for grabs.

India’s spinners have conceded runs at an economy rate of 8.21, average of 36.24 and a strike-rate of 26.4 since the start of 2020 in T20Is. Each of those metrics is the worst among spinners from any of the 16 teams heading into the T20 World Cup. It speaks volumes about India’s conundrum in the spin department. This tour is begging for a rookie spinner to steal the limelight and impress the selectors to earn a spot in India’s XI for the T20 World Cup.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar.

Wrist spin options are in abundance for India in T20s 👌

Which of these five wrist spinners should make it to India’s T20 World Cup squad? pic.twitter.com/c5fj9PJxVW

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 1, 2021

Back-up middle-order role in demand, but who gets in?

With several superstars missing and Shreyas Iyer still recovering from his injury, India’s fringe middle-order batters have a whole series to stake their claims for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. Sanju Samson, for instance, shed his macho, hit-or-miss avatar to play some controlled yet aggressive knocks in the first half of the IPL. Samson’s dynamic range makes him a terrific T20 player, but his lack of consistency has often let him down.

This tour presents a chance to change that narrative around, especially since he is likely to play a proper middle-order role, one where India need players like him. Ishan Kishan and Nitish Rana will also hope to get a string of games as will Suryakumar Yadav, who is likely to be in direct competition with Iyer for a spot in the XI once the Delhi Capitals skipper is fit.

Which all-rounders will make the cut?

The fact that none of India’s top five batting options are part-timers make it pertinent that they pick all-rounders in the T20 World Cup squad. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja asid,e the others aren’t assured of a place in the extended T20 World Cup squad and this series presents an audition for the likes of Krishnappa Gowtham and Krunal Pandya to push for a spot. Krunal, in particular, is someone India have banked upon on and off to fulfil the extra spinner’s slot while not compromising much on the batting front.

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match awards, player interviews, analysis and much more.