Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Ground, Dharamsala
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Average score at the venue (1st inns): 183
Win percentage while batting first: NA
Pitch conditions:
- The pitch at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) ground in Dharamsala was replete with runs in the second game on Saturday night and it is expected to be no different for the third and final game of the series on Sunday, with another run-fest on the cards.
- Fast bowlers have been able to take their wicket-share percentage to as high as 75% at this venue, with the spinners getting the remaining 25% after the conclusion of the second game on Saturday.
Weather prediction:
Rains will clear out on Sunday after a rainy and cold Saturday with the temperature hitting the double digits of 11°C in the afternoon. The sky will remain clear for the third and final match of the series with players witnessing a temperature of 9°C at the start, which will drop down to 6°C at the conclusion. The humidity levels will be in excess of 60%.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD (overall):
Matches played: 24
India won: 16
Sri Lanka won: 7
Tied: -
No result: 1
In India:
Matches played: 13
India won: 10
Sri Lanka won: 2
Tied: -
No result: 1
Top 3 players from India: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja
Top 3 players from Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka
Top picks for H2H/WTA contest (top 5 players each):
Top 5 players from India: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson
Top 5 players from Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera
Q & A:
Should I pick more bowlers, batsmen or all-rounders?
Batsmen have ruled the roost in the ongoing three-match series between India and Sri Lanka with the home team scoring around 200 runs in both the matches so far. The script for the third and final match of this bilateral affair cannot be expected to be any different, given that the surface in Dharamsala is supportive to batsmen as witnessed in the second game of the series on Saturday. It will be wise to add plenty of firepower in the batting line-up in the fantasy cricket playing XI, particularly the power-hitters from both the camps.
From which team should I pick more players in my XI? Which team is stronger?
India have been able to successfully juggle with their players and still get desired results which has seen them extend their unbeaten run in the format to 11 matches. The home team has been able to draw a lot of confidence through success registered by making brave and bold choices and picking players who suited the format most and giving them ample amount of opportunity. India are certainly the stronger side among the two competing in the series but Sri Lanka also have some really promising players such as Pathum Nissanka, who has the promise to go a long distance in his international career.
MORE INFORMATION: India will be missing the services of opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad who has been ruled out of the series due to a wrist injury. At the same time, Sri Lanka have been without their ace bowler Wanindu Hasaranga in the first two matches but they showed ample amount to fight with the ball. The third and final match of the series provides Sri Lanka with another opportunity to showcase their talent and play out of their skins to try and get better of a rampant Indian cricket team.
Players’ form: In the absence of Suryakumar Yadav in the middle-order, Shreyas Iyer has grabbed the opportunity of providing India with big runs with aplomb. The middle-order batsman has been absolutely belligerent in his stroke-making, hitting two spectacular knocks to showcase his talent in the shortest format in which he is considered as one of the best middle-order players. Ishan Kishan also has been impressive with the bat for India, which only signals the depth and riches of the team in a format where they are trying to make a visible change in the way they play. On the other hand, Sri Lanka should not lose their heart after the performances in the first two matches as they have been competitive and skilful in making their mark.
Changes in squad (if any): NO
Likely XIs:
INDIA: R Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara
FANTASY XI: R Sharma, Pathum Nissanka, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Charith Asalanka, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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Rampant India eye third consecutive 3-0 series win
A dominant Indian cricket team will look to register their third consecutive series whitewash and overall their 12th win on the trot when they take on Sri Lanka in the third and final T20 international, to be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) ground in Dharamsala on Sunday night.
India had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series following an impressive run chase against Sri Lanka on Saturday night at the same venue with Shreyas Iyer (74*) and Ravindra Jadeja (45*) coming up with big runs in the chase of more than 180, with Sanju Samson (39) contributing as well. India have been the more dominant side in this series and there are hardly any significant reasons which may stop them from winning their 12th match in the format, as well as the third consecutive series win, having earlier blanked New Zealand and West Indies by similar margins of 3-0.
The home team is not likely to make any big changes for the third match as they are without the services of the young opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been sidelined from this bilateral contest due to a wrist injury. R Sharma will continue to have Ishan Kishan as his opening partner, with Shreyas Iyer providing a strong resistance in the middle while the team management look to make more experiments and changes to their overall approach and line-up.
The promotion of Jadeja at No 5 ahead of the other all-rounders Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda on Saturday proved to be another masterstroke by the Indian team management, as the veteran cricketer scored a fabulous 18-ball 45 to power India to a big win by 7 wickets and close to 3 overs to spare.
The form of Shreyas Iyer poses the biggest threat to Sri Lanka as far as Indian batting is concerned, with the middle-order batsman being able to effortlessly switch gears from cautious mode to an aggressive one on more occasions than one.
But it will be wrong for Sri Lanka to not draw a lot of confidence from the last two matches as they too have made some impressive moves in the series. Pathum Nissanka is a great find for the island nation with the opening batsmen finally coming to party with a splendid 75 from 53 balls in the second match, which was studded with 11 boundaries.
At the same time, Dasun Shanaka has been a rock for Sri Lanka and his side would look up to their captain once again to make a mark in the third and final match of the series before the two teams get on with their preparations for the two-match Test series starting early next month.
