After clinching the ODI series 2-1, hosts India will once again lock horns with Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Cuttack on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma will once again lead the home side in the absence of Virat Kohli with a host of new faces introduced into the squad for the three-match series.
We look at the key talking points ahead of the game.
KL RAHUL TO GET HIS CHANCE
The opener has watched himself play second fiddle to Shikhar Dhawan in the Test format and was not picked in the squad for the ODI series.
He returns to the side for this format and will pair-up with Sharma in his preferred opening position. The right-hander has been out of form in twenty over cricket and will be looking for some eye-catching knocks to reaffirm his spot in the Indian set-up.
Rahul will be keen to reaffirm his limited-overs credentials.
ROHIT SHARMA ON VERGE OF MILESTONE
The stand-in skipper is 15 runs short of becoming the second Indian batsman to score over 1,500 runs in T20Is. Virat Kohli is the only Indian batsman to have achieved the feat and Sharma will be looking to join that exclusive club.
The opener is fresh from his third ODI double-ton in the recently concluded 50-over series and could cap off a fine 2017 with another feather in his cap.
Sharma looks set to join an elite club for India.
CHANCE FOR INDIA’S FRESH CROP
Deepak Hooda and Basil Thampi have been given their maiden call-ups for India while Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj have only played one international match before this series. Add in Jaydev Unadkat and in the mix and the hosts have a host of fresh faces in the squad.
Hooda might find it difficult to find a spot in the middle-order at the moment while Siraj, Thampi and Unadkat will be fighting for the role of the second pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
It will be interesting to note how many of the new faces see some action but it will not be surprising for all of them to feature at some point in the series as the hosts look to test their bench strength.
Siraj and Unadkat will feature at some point in the series.
SRI LANKA’S BEST CHANCE
The islanders, for all their woes, have offered a scare both in the Tests and ODI series. While they were blown away in the deciding one-dayer, the tourists will feel confident of causing an upset with the host of changes made in India’s squad.
With Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dhawan missing for India among others, Thisara Perera’s men will know that the format might represent their best chance of trumping the hosts.
Sri Lanka have lost their last four encounters with India in T20s and will be hoping to change that trend in Cuttack. Their new coach Chandika Hathurusingha is expected to take over the reins mid-way through the series and that might bring about a fresh approach.
The visitors have their best chance of the tour so far.
