Rohit Sharma’s India will take on Sri Lanka in their second super-4 match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. Both teams will play this match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, September 12. The match will be very crucial for both teams to keep their momentum going in their quest to qualify for the final of the continental tournament.
Currently, the men in blue are grappling with injury concerns as there have been a couple of injury issues with some key players of late. Considering that, it will be a tough job for the management to pick their best XI in the all-important game against the hosts, Sri Lanka who are running with a winning streak of 13 consecutive ODIs.
With that said, here we’ll have a look at the predicted playing XI of India for the upcoming super-4 clash against Sri Lanka.
Openers – Rohit Sharma (C) and Shubman Gill
The opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and his young partner Shubman Gill provided an outstanding start to Team India in their first super-4 clash against the arch-rivals, Pakistan. The duo stood there and accumulated a partnership of 121 runs for the first wicket. Both the batters scored brilliant half-centuries to strengthen India’s start.
Rohit and Gill are looking for an impressive touch with the bat so the Indian management will not be thinking even in any wild guess to temper this opening combination in the next game against Sri Lanka. The duo is set to open the innings for India against the hosts.
Middle Order – Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
The star batter KL Rahul made his comeback in the playing XI of India as Shreyas Iyer struggled with a back spasm during the practice session ahead of the match against Pakistan. The Indian middle-order is looking quite strong with the presence of former skipper and modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli.
Apart from these two, the in-form batter Ishan Kishan is also a positive sign for the Indian team to get a big total in the game against Sri Lanka. Indian middle-order will be an obstacle to cross for the Sri Lankan bowlers.
All Rounders – Hardik Pandya (VC) and Ravindra Jadeja
Looking at the all-rounders’ concern for Team India, there is not any worry for the Indian team management as there is a well-settled and in-form star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He played an impressive knock of 87 runs in the first group match against Pakistan which was washed off due to rain.
Other than Pandya, the seven-time Asia Cup champions can also count on the star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja when it comes to providing strength in the lower middle order. Apart from this, both of these stars can provide some extra bowling options for India when it will be required in the match against Sri Lanka.
Bowlers – Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj
To sort out the bowling concerns, India will have their star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI against India. He is making his comeback in Team India after a long wait of back injury that he sustained almost 11 months ago. Apart from Bumrah, the star pacer Mohammed Siraj will also be one of the vital cogs in the wheel for India.
Shardul Thakur will be there in the role of the third pacer when it is required after the end of the first spells of Burmah and Siraj. Alongside three pacers, India will look ahead to field the wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav as the specialist spinner in the playing XI against Sri Lanka.