India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: Yuvraj’s lack of time in middle a concern as team India keen to series win
Stung by the humiliating defeat in Pune in the first T20I, India flexed their collective muscle over the inexperienced Sri Lanka side in Ranchi – the home ground of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
With a familial setting, came common conditions as India’s batting assault was led by Shikhar Dhawan on a flat, dry pitch that slowed down after, before the bowler’s economically finished off a near-perfect Twenty20 performance. The result, a 69-run win and it was as complete as the border indicates.
The Indian bat that came unstuck on the top that is green in Pune were much more at home on a slow strip at Ranchi, where they didn’t put a foot wrong. The bowlers, also, were in complete control, never letting the Sri Lankan batsmen dominate.
The captaincy of Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was notable and all his experiments, be it reshuffling of the batting order or bowling approaches, paid off.
India mastered the conditions in Ranchi but also implemented their plans to perfection.
The flying start that Rohit Sharma and openers Dhawan supplied India, gave an opportunity to experiment with the batting order to Dhoni.
The move to send Hardik Pandya ahead of Yuvraj Singh and himself functioned nicely as the young batsman created a fervent cameo.
In Australia, Pandya didn’t get a chance to reveal his batting art however he made an impression on Friday in Ranchi.
Though Bumrah and Ashish Nehra did exceptionally well, as the conditions would suit his swing bowling during the evening, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is anticipated to be more efficient in the coastal city here.
The captain was sharp behind the wickets also, effecting two stumpings that are bright.
It’ll be where the pitch is likely to play similar, the batting strength which makes India cozy favorites in Visakhapatnam.
The full arena is sponsoring its first-ever T20 International. In the small-over structure, the arena has sponsored five ODIs formerly, with India.
“Yuvi is under a little pressure. We needed Yuvi not to be uncomfortable in his time slot. He’s batted nicely at No. 4. Give him a set. Raina has also done nicely at 5. We’re only looking for alternatives. We do not have any choices. I stand by it.
The conversation following the triumph in Ranchi, nearly presciently was about Yuvraj’s bat as well. Yuvraj, who came to bat at number seven, was out for a duck and didn’t get enough time. It is going to be vital for the World Cup preparations in India in the event the elegant left-hander gets some time to spend before the following month’s World Twenty20 in the middle.
Dhoni has granted that it will not be easy to send him up the order since the top-four are doing exceptionally well but revealed the purpose of giving Yuvraj more opportunities to bat for a longer span.
Till now it was just with Dhawan also dramatic kind although Rohit who was tormenting the competing bowlers, Indian bat wears a look that is more confident.
Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi might conclude the series without getting any match time also.
The Sri Lankan rate trio of Dushmantha Chameera Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka had wreaked havoc in Pune, but they were beaten about in Ranchi by the advice Indian batsman along with the visiting bowlers are not likely to get any respite.
Sri Lanka would expect that their batsmen do better, especially Tillakaratne Dilshan, who’s the most seasoned in the squad in the lack of several seniors. If he wants his side to pull off what’s going to be a huge upset Dinesh Chandimal, the captain as well as the guy in kind, will need to do a mass of the grading.
T20 is a structure that is fickle, but it seems incredibly problematic for the Sri Lankans to topple the home team unless they lift their match by several notches. India will just need to look back at this site for the first match of the series and the past match to understand an upset can occur anytime in cricket. All it’d take is a wrong call in some excessive dew and the throw.
TEAMS:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harbhajan Singh.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dushmantha Chameera, Niroshan Dickwella, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Binura Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Asela Gunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Kasun Rajitha, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Jeffrey Vandersay.
Match starts: 7.30pm (IST)
source: PTI
