India vs Sri Lanka Match Prediction: Who will win today's 1st T20I match?
The T20 World Cup champions are in action once again! Soon after India's 4-1 win over Zimbabwe, they will lock horns with Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, with the opening game on Saturday, July 27, in Pallekele.
A lot of things have happened since the T20 World Cup final, though. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have moved on from the format, with the vice-captain of the title-winning team, Hardik Pandya, being removed from captaincy duties. Suryakumar Yadav will lead a fairly strong Indian side into battle against the Lankans.
Sri Lanka will have a relatively fresh face at the helm, too. Wanindu Hasaranga's spell as T20I captain was nothing short of woeful, with questionable tactical decisions and off-field controversies preventing the team from scaling heights.
The Lankans' T20 World Cup campaign was hugely disappointing, and the Lanka Premier League, which recently concluded, was far from a commercial success. There's only one way for the Lankan Lions to get back to international cricket prominence, and that's by focusing on their performances.
India have brushed aside Sri Lanka with consummate ease over the last few years, in tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC events. Will the trend continue this time around as well?
IND vs SL 2024: India look to cruise past struggling Sri Lanka
To make matters even worse for a struggling Sri Lanka outfit, many of their players are falling like ninepins. Illnesses and injuries have already forced three absences, with the bowling attack wearing a considerably weakened look.
Sri Lanka haven't had batting stability for quite a while now despite the presence of established names like Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera. And while their bowling has a few outright matchwinners, including Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, and Hasaranga, they might not have enough in the tank to counter a full-strength Indian batting unit.
Sri Lanka's bowling firepower brings them into the contest to a certain degree, but there's a reason why India won the T20 World Cup. They have most bases covered even without Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, and basic tactical smarts should be enough for the Men in Blue to make a winning start to the series.
The game of cricket is unpredictable, but Sri Lanka are the clear underdogs for this one.
Prediction: India to win the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka.