Daijiworld Media Network

Pune, Feb 9 : An unplanned series, but a series that is very important for the preparations of both the sides. India come into this series after a stunning 3-0 whitewash of the Aussies in their own den. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, were at the receiving end of a 2-0 drubbing by the Black Caps in the T20I series. Hello and a warm welcome to the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Pune.

Sri Lanka will also be without their key performer, Tillakaratne Dilshan, but only for the first game. He has been ruled out for the first T20I with a hand injury and the visitors have added cover in the form of wicket-keeper batsman, Niroshan Dickwella. Both Mathews and Malinga are also absent from this Lankan team, which will be led by Dinesh Chandimal. For the Indians, this series will provide ample opportunity to test their new found stars, players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Pawan Negi, while the experienced guns like Yuvraj Singh will also get the chance to try and stamp his authority in this star-studded team. The toss and teams are not far away.

India will be without their star player, Virat Kohli, who has been rested for this 3-match series. India are currently the World No. 1 team and are the favourites to win the World T20 in their own backyard. But for that to happen, they need to get their combinations right in home conditions. Considering the conditions in Bangladesh will be similar to the ones in India, this series will provide a good warm-up for both the Asian giants before the multi-nation tournaments - the Asia Cup and the World T20.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to field

Dhoni: 'We have only made one change. Virat is not there, so Ajinkya Rahane replaces him. Being part of the World T20 squad, we felt that it is important for us to give him a few games in this series. It will be good to have him at the top-order of the order.'

Chandimal: 'We are going to bowl first. Hopefully we will Most of the senior players are injured and it's a big challenge for us. But we have very good youngsters who are waiting to do well. We have two debutants - Niroshan Dickwella and Kasun Rajitha.'

Pitch Report: 'It has a decent covering of grass. There might just be a little bit of movement with the new ball, but the grass will also hold the pitch together. Dew might play a factor. We can expect a high-scoring contest,' reckons Sunil Gavaskar.

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dinesh Chandimal(c), Seekkuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Sachithra Senanayake, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra