IND vs SL 2nd T20: As Shikhar Dhawan led Team India is suffering due to Krunal Pandya’s Covid positive test, Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka have its own problems too. Two star performers — Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Charith Asalanka are ruled out of the 2nd T20 with injures. Furthermore, Pathum Nissanka is also doubtful with an injury.
Charith Asalanka who was the top-performer for Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI with 44 off 26 balls has suffered a hamstring injury on his left leg as per DailyFT and will need to pass a fitness test to be picked for Playing XI on Wednesday.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who missed out on the 1st T20, is set to miss the series as he has a hairline fracture in his finger. He sustained the injury during the ODI series against India and will undergo rehabilitation. Pathum Nissanka has suffered a blow in his hand during the nets and is likely to miss out on the 2nd T20.
This comes as a blow for Sri Lanka, who lost the first T20 by 38 runs while chasing a 165-target. However, with India dealt a heavier blow with nine top players ruled out of the series after all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19, Sri Lanka will have a golden opportunity.
As per SLC sources, both teams have been tested before the 2nd T20 and barring the nine Indian players all are negative and the match will go on as planned today. The nine players including Krunal Pandya will be isolated and are ruled out of the series which concludes on July 29.
Amongst the eight close contacts of Krunal Pandya, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham besides batsman Manish Pandey’s names have been revealed. All of these cricketers are considered as close contacts of Covid-19 positive case of Krunal Pandya in the team and will spend three days in isolation.
The series has already been hampered by COVID-19 outbreaks in Sri Lanka camp. Batting coach Grant Flower and a performance analyst tested positive after returning from England, where the entire England squad had to be isolated due to COVID outbreak in their own camp.
The series had to be rescheduled and pushed back by five days. Instead of July 13, the 1st ODI was played on July 18 with India winning the series 2-1.
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