Sri Lanka announce 16-member squad for T20I series against India, LPL's third-highest run-scorer makes comeback

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on July 23 announced a 16-member T20I squad for the three-T20I series against India. Charith Asalanka has been named the captain of the side after Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down from the role following an early exit from T20 World Cup 2024. 
 

Dinesh Chandimal who played his last T20I in 2022 against India has made a comeback into the side. Also, Avishka Fernando, who was not included in T20 World Cup 2024 squad after a stellar Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 season. Avishka was the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in LPL 2024 with 374 runs from 10 innings including five half-centuries.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe is the only uncapped player in the squad. Wickramasinghe has scored 282 runs from 25 T20s so far at an average of 25.63 including two fifties. The 21-year-old's strike rate is 112.79.

All over for Mathews?

One of the notable omissions from the squad is all-rounder Angelo Matthews. Mathews was decent with the bat in LPL 2024 for Kandy Falcons. The 37-year-old scored 261 runs from 10 games. However, the selection committee seems to have moved on from Mathews.  

Dhananjaya de Silva is another name missing from the squad who played in T20 World Cup 2024. Other players missing are Dilshan Madushanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

Sri Lanka's T20I squad 

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera

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Asalanka's T20I captaincy numbers

Asalanka led Sri Lanka on Bangladesh soil in T20Is. Sri Lanka won one out of the two games.

India's T20I squad 

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj. 

India vs Sri Lanka T20I series schedule 

The T20I series will begin on July 27. The second T20I will take place on July 28 and the series will conclude on July 30. All the T20Is will be played at Pallekele International Stadium.
 

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