The first T20I between Sri Lanka and India is set to get underway on Saturday, July 27. The major news from Sri Lanka's squad is their new captain, all-rounder Charith Asalanka, succeeding Wanindu Hasaranga.
Charith Asalanka replaces Wanindu Hasaranga as captain
Earlier this month, Hasaranga had stepped down from captaincy of the national team following their ordinary showing at the T20 World Cup in North America in June. Sri Lanka lost their first two matches against South Africa and Bangladesh before a washout against Nepal confirmed they would not qualify for the Super Eights stage.
Asalanka, Sri Lanka's vice-captain for the World Cup, has now been promoted as full-time T20I captain. He has led Sri Lanka twice already, stepping in earlier this year in a bilateral series against Bangladesh when Hasaranga was suspended. Sri Lanka won one and lost one of these.
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Asalanka has led in 31 T20s so far. Apart from the national side, he has led the Sinhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka's domestic T20 competition, and SLC Reds and SLC Blues in invitational tournaments. His first franchise captaincy stint came in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League as his Jaffna Kings side won the league.
All in all, Asalanka has a record of 23 wins and 8 losses as a T20 captain. Interestingly, this T20I series will now see two new permanent captains face off, as Suryakumar Yadav replaced the now-retired Rohit Sharma as the Indian captain.
Rohit Sharma will lead India's ODI squad, while Suryakumar Yadav will captain the T20I squad with Shubman Gill as the vice-captain for both formats.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 18, 2024
Read the squad here: https://t.co/dIhbtvMTPh pic.twitter.com/31gQpiAmab
Angelo Mathews out, Chamindu Wickramasinghe gets maiden call-up
Sri Lanka's 16-man squad for this series contains no major surprises, though there are a few changes from the World Cup squad. Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews and Dilshan Madushanka have all been left out. There are recalls for batters Avishka Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal, as well as pace bowler Binura Fernando. Seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe has received a maiden national team call-up.
Sri Lanka squad for T20I series against India
Batters: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando
All-rounders: Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe
Wicketkeepers: Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal
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