India vs Sri Lanka 2017, First T20I: Team India's probable XI

After winning the test series and the ODI series 1-0 and 2-1 respectively, India now square off against Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series. The first of these matches will be played at Cuttack on 20th December with a new-look Team India taking the field.

Along with Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested for the series, therefore, it will be interesting to see how the team lines up come Wednesday evening.

Here's our predicted XI for the match.

Openers

Rohit Sharma

Leading the team from the front will be Rohit Sharma, who is fresh off his third double century, which he hit in the second ODI of the series. While the third match didn't go the way he'd have planned, there is no question about the fact that the Mumbaikar can be as devastating as any of the batsmen out there on his day.

KL Rahul

After sitting out of the ODI series, KL Rahul will be willing to prove himself in the T20Is. With Dhawan out of the equation, Rahul is a natural pick for the second opening slot. He had scored an 18-ball-24 when India and Lanka last met in a T20I.