3 Team India players who can redeem themselves against Sri Lanka
A new-look Team India are ready to take on the Sri Lankan challenge in a white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is. With batting great Rahul Dravid as manager, the Shikhar Dhawan-led young team will be keen to dish out an impressive performance in the upcoming series.
With several talented players at their disposal, both Dravid and Dhawan will find it hard to select the best possible playing XI. Cricketers who performed well in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy as well as in the first half of the IPL 2021 campaign have been rewarded with an India call-up.
3 Indian players eyeing vindication
While there are several talented youngsters in the squad, certain experienced players who have traveled to Sri Lanka will want to prove that they still have it in them to perform at the international level.
Let's take a look at three players who have a chance to redeem themselves.
#3 Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar has been one of MS Dhoni's go-to men in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) setup. Having made his debut for India in 2018, Chahar has played 13 T20Is, picking up 18 wickets in the process. His best performance was a sensational 6/7 against Bangladesh and this remains the best T20I bowling figures ever.
Following an average outing in Australia, he didn't feature in the T20I series against England earlier in the year. However, he bounced back in IPL 2021, with an exhibition of excellent swing bowling.
Alongside the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar has a great chance of impressing against Sri Lanka and sealing a place for himself in India's T20 World Cup squad.
#2 Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey has been in and around the Indian setup ever since the 2015 World Cup. Although the right-hander did impress with the limited chances he received, it was either his inconsistency or the impatience of selectors which resulted in him not getting an extended run in India colors.
Pandey had a mixed IPL 2021 season. He managed two fifties, but the 31-year-old faced heavy scrutiny over his below-par strike rate of 123.71.
Pandey, who will add experience to an Indian middle order that boasts the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson, will be key to India's chances of doing well against Sri Lanka. With a number of middle-order spots still up for grabs for the T20 World Cup, Pandey will need a good series to push his case.
Pandey, who will add experience to an Indian middle order that boasts the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson, will be key to India's chances of doing well against Sri Lanka. With a number of middle-order spots still up for grabs for the T20 World Cup, Pandey will need a good series to push his case.
#1 Kuldeep Yadav
One of the most talked about Indian cricketers, Kuldeep Yadav has seen highs and lows in his brief international career. The left-arm wrist spinner was a key player in Team India's white-ball setup.
But things have changed and Kuldeep finds himself in a position where he once again needs to prove his mettle on the international scene. However, he has a terrific record in T20Is, with 39 wickets from 20 games.
Although Kuldeep had a terrible outing against England in his last ODI, the spinner will be a threat if he gets his line and length right against Sri Lanka.
With the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal also struggling for form and consistency, Kuldeep can make a strong claim for a place in the T20 World Cup squad with a good performance in the series against Sri Lanka.