(Cricket news) After winning a last ball thriller in Mumbai by 2 runs, India now gear up for the 2nd T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The men in blue have a chance to seal the series which will allow them to try out some more players in the 3rd and final T20I. Sri Lanka will definitely come in harder because they were so close to victory in the last game. The Pune pitch is usually great for batting and offers little assistance to spinners. Both the teams will be expecting a lot more from their top order. 

India’s possible playing XI:

Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shivam Mavi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal

Bench: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Harshal Patel

Sanju Samson has been ruled out of the series due to a knee injury he suffered while fielding. Jitesh Sharma has been brought in as a replacement for his maiden India call-up but Rahul Tripathi is likely to be brought into the line-up as Ishan Kishan is donning the gloves. Arshdeep Singh is fit again but Shivam Mavi’s impressive debut means that the management will have to make a tough call. It could be Harshal Patel who makes way which would be harsh but necessary. Hardik Pandya had cramps in the last match but he did say after that he is fine. It will be interesting to see if he bowls with the new ball again.

Sri Lanka’s possible playing XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

Bench: Avishka Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Kasun Rajitha, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Nuwan Thushara, Sadeera Samarawickrama

Sri Lanka need their top order to step up to the task and put pressure on India’s bowlers. The visitors may want to bring in Lahiru Kumara for his pace in place of Kasin Rajitha who did go for a few too many runs in the 1st T20. Sri Lanka may want to change their approach a little while batting as they sometimes tend to go defensive after losing a wicket or two. With big hitters like Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Charith Asalanka in the middle order they can back themselves a little more to go at a higher rate.

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