IND vs SL 1st T20: Despite BCCI all set to send Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav and Devdutt Padikkal to England for the five-match Test series, the team management in Sri Lanka are unaware of the developments. Shikhar Dhawan, India’s captain for the Sri Lanka tour, said that BCCI hasn’t yet informed them officially about their release and they will still feature in their plans for the T20 series against Sri Lanka, starting Sunday.
“Nothing has been informed to us yet. We will get to know once there is any update from the BCCI management. So in that case, there is no need to change our strategy for the series,” Shikhar Dhawan said at a virtual press conference from Colombo on Saturday.
IND vs SL 1st T20: However, BCCI hasn’t yet officially confirmed Shubman Gill’s injury either and considering that Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav and Devdutt Padikkal’s departure for England could be delayed. Instead of leaving immediately, they might travel to England only after the Sri Lanka series ends on July 29.
However, for the team in Sri Lanka, the aim is to win the three-match T20 series. Considering it will be India’s last T20 series before the T20 World Cup, it will have paramount importance for some of the players who are aiming to cement their places in the T20 World Cup squad including skipper Shikhar Dhawan himself.
“We definitely plan to give opportunities to the youngsters. But it is a new series, so we will pick the best team. The aim will be to win the first two games and clinch the series. And if we need to do some experiments in the last game, we will decide according to the situation,” Shikhar Dhawan said.
IND vs SL 1st T20: On a personal note, Shikhar Dhawan will have to put up big scores to have any chance of making it to India’s playing XI in the T20 World Cup with KL Rahul & Rohit Sharma being the preferred openers. The veteran left-hander knows that well and wants to perform well.
“It is very important. Any international match is crucial and when you perform, it makes a huge impact. I want to perform well here and strengthen my place in the team for the World Cup, let’s see how it goes,” he said.
IND vs SL 1st T20: As for Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka, India is not taking the team lightly after losing the 3rd ODI by 3 wickets. Dhawan feels it will be a good competition after Sri Lanka’s drastic improvements in the last two matches.
“It will be a good competition. The Sri Lankan team has improved and they played well. Both teams have young players, so we are looking forward to some exciting contests in the series. Now that we have played three games already, both sides know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It will be a good challenge,” he said.
