India return to white-ball cricket after four months with three One-Day Internationals followed by as many T20Is against Sri Lanka, startin...
India return to white-ball cricket after four months with three One-Day Internationals followed by as many T20Is against Sri Lanka, starting in Colombo on Sunday. With another Indian team preparing for a Test series in England, this tour may seem insignificant to some. But it does offer some unique prospects.
Led by Shikhar Dhawan, it’s an inexperienced, if not second string, squad that India has sent to Sri Lanka. Having two teams on separate assignments puts Indian cricket in an unprecedented position, and it remains to be seen whether or not this will become common practice in the future. For now, though, there is no doubt that it is the England Tests that will peak interest, while the results on the Sri Lanka tour would struggle to find relevance.
It also doesn’t help that the home team inspires little confidence. Sri Lanka recently got swept by England in ODIs and T20Is, three of their players – Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka – have been suspended for flouting Covid-19 protocols, a bitter pay dispute with the board ended only last week, and Angelo Mathews, their most experienced player, has opted out of the India series citing personal reasons.
Cricket: Sri Lanka announce squad to face India, Dasun...Read more
