MUMBAI: Relating to India enjoying Sri Lanka on the Wankhede Stadium, the rapid factor that involves thoughts is the night time of April 2, 2011, when the Males in Blue beat Lanka in a memorable remaining to clinch their second ODI World Cup trophy.
On Tuesday, when India tackle acquainted rivals Sri Lanka within the opening T20I of a three-match sequence, this historic venue, which is internet hosting a T20I after three years, will see one other special day. The match, set to be witnessed by a near-capacity crowd, will mark the beginning of a brand new period in T20 cricket for India.
In a transparent signal that winds of change at the moment are sweeping by means of Indian cricket following an atypical yr, star allrounder Hardik Pandya will launch his reign because the fulltime captain of India’s T20I group, with all of the three seniors — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul — lacking from the ranks.
To not be missed is the truth that India’s T20I group now has a model new vice-captain too within the dashing Suryakumar Yadav, whose white-ball exploits in 2022 have seen him being justifiably nominated for the ICC males’s T20I participant of the yr award. What makes this recreation doubly memorable for him is that that is the primary time ‘SKY’ will flip up in India colors in entrance of his dwelling crowd.
A brand new yr 🗓️A brand new begin 👍🏻A brand new Vice-captain – @surya_14kumar – for the Sri Lanka T20I sequence 😎#TeamIndia had… https://t.co/TurJulePTg
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1672679021000
It should even be a candy homecoming of a distinct kind for Yadav’s Mumbai Indians teammate Ishan Kishan. This would be the explosive left-handed opener’s first India outing since Dec 10, the day he broke Chris Gayle’s document and smashed the quickest ODI double hundred (210 off 131 balls) in opposition to Bangladesh. Will probably be fascinating to see who opens with Kishan, the proficient Shubman Gill or Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has staged a comeback after a wonderful present for Maharashtra within the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Final yr, beneath Pandya’s stand-in-captaincy, India received two T20I sequence in Eire after which in New Zealand, however that is Pandya’s first critical crack at India’s captaincy. It may be safely stated that a couple of senior gamers have been excluded by the outgoing nationwide choice committee from this group, particularly with an eye fixed to construct a youthful, new-look, contemporary and energetic facet for the 2024 T20 World Cup within the West Indies and USA. Earlier than they go away workplace, chief selector Chetan Sharma and his colleagues have carried out effectively to press the ‘reset’ button in time in the case of T20Is.
‘In World Cup, our method wasn’t the identical as earlier’
One of many greatest errors that India made within the T20 World Cup final yr was abandoning their carefree, aggressive method, selecting to return to the extra conservative perspective that had already value them the 2021 T20 World Cup. Virtually admitting to the blunder, Pandya promised that ‘his group’ would look to reintroduce that template in T20Is as soon as once more.
“You see, earlier than the (T20) World Cup, I do not assume we did something fallacious. Our template, method, every little thing was the identical. Sure, within the World Cup, issues did not go how we wished. And I feel our method was not what it was earlier than the World Cup.
“What now we have observed and advised the boys is that simply go on the market and specific (your self), which they are going to do. And it is as much as us how we again them. What now we have stated is that we’ll again you to the core. All of the gamers have that help from my facet that I will again them to the core,” Pandya stated.
This will even be the primary worldwide outing on Indian soil for brand new tempo gun Umran Malik. Although Umran has performed simply 3 T20Is, through which he has taken 2 wickets at an financial system price of 12. 44, the tearaway is anticipated to be a key bowler for India.
“Clearly he has tempo. Everybody is aware of how thrilling a prospect he’s. We are going to give him sufficient alternatives, backing and help from our facet (so) that he can flourish right here,” Pandya stated.
Lanka, in the meantime, are led by allrounder Dasun Shanaka, who has a knack of doing effectively in opposition to India with the bat. Although India whitewashed them 3-0 at dwelling final yr, they misplaced to the Islanders within the ‘Tremendous 4’ stage of the Asia Cup in Dubai in September.
Whereas Pandya prevented phrases like “settling scores,” he did reveal that India would look to “intimidate” the Lankans with their model of “fearless cricket”.
“We’re not trying to ‘settle’ something. We wish to play good cricket. Sure, we’ll make them really feel like we’re in India, don’t fret about that. I guarantee and promise you they are going to really feel that they are enjoying a global group, that too India in India.
“We will be clear. We needn’t go and sledge them. Our physique language is sufficient for them to really feel somewhat intimidated,” Pandya stated.
