India's XI for SL T20Is

India's T20I series against Sri Lanka gets underway on July 27 - here's what India's XI for the first game could look like.

Gautam Gambhir's first stint as India's head coach starts with the first T20I agaisnt Sri Lanka on Saturday (July 27). The team will be under a new permanent captain Suryakumar Yadav, and will be embarking on new journey post their T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean last month.

Here's India's complete squad for the three T20Is, all of which will be played in Pallekele.

India's T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammad Siraj.

India's predicted XI for first T20I

Top order

With only two designated openers in the squad, the opening slots are confirmed for all three games of the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who sat on the bench throughout the T20 World Cup, and Shubman Gill, who led in the Zimbabwe series and has now been named the vice-captain of both the T20I and ODI squads, will open the batting together. They have done so eight times previously in T20Is and have a phenomenal record, averaging 63.14 and going at 10 runs per over per opening partnership.

India is likely to continue from where they left off at the T20 World Cup, meaning Rishabh Pant will bat at No.3, taking on the aggressor's role like he did in the victorious campaign.

Shubman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk)

Middle-order

The crux of the middle order is largely expected to be the same as it was during the T20 World Cup. Surya will form the fulcrum of the middle order at No.4, while Shivam Dube might be given another run of games at No.5 despite a modest outing at the World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube

Finishers

Positions 6-7-8 will be occupied by all-rounders, a similar setup as was there at the T20 World Cup, with the only difference being that the now-retired Ravindra Jadeja will most probably be replaced by Washington Sundar at No.8.

Hardik Pandya returns after a break from the Zimbabwe series and will be the main finisher in the side at No.6 while Axar Patel will have added responsibility on his shoulders at No.7 and with the ball after his brilliant World Cup campaign and the retirement of Jadeja.

Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar

Bowlers

Ravi Bishnoi, ignored for the T20 World Cup in place of Yuzvendra Chahal, made a mark in the Zimbabwe series, picking up six wickets in the first two games, before tailing off a bit in the second half. With Kuldeep Yadav not in the squad, Bishnoi will be the primary wrist spinner in the side and should play all games.

Among the pacers, Jasprit Bumrah has been given an extended rest but Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are back, meaning they'll lead the bowling attack. The only other seamer in the squad is Khaleel Ahmed, who might get a game later in the series in place of Arshdeep. On Sri Lankan pitches, chances are close to none that India will play all three fast bowlers along with Pandya in the XI.

Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj

Predicted XI

Shubman Gill (vc)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rishabh Pant (wk)
Suryakumar Yadav (c)
Shivam Dube
Hardik Pandya
Axar Patel
Washington Sundar
Ravi Bishnoi
Arshdeep Singh
Mohammad Siraj

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