In the series opener against Sri Lanka, Indian opener Shubman Gill and pacer Shivam Mavi made their T20I debuts for Team India, led by Hardik Pandya. Arshdeep Singh, an Indian pacer, was unavailable for selection. Stand-in captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that the hosts have given debuts to two rising stars for the first Twenty20 International. At the Wankhede Stadium against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, leading Team India in their first match of the 2023 season.
Talking at the conventional coin throw, all-rounder Pandya uncovered that Indian opener Shubman Gill and pacer Shivam Mavi are making their separate presentations in the most limited design for the hosts. The star white-ball specialist and all-rounder also stated that pacer Arshdeep Singh could not be selected. Arshdeep, Team India’s pace ace in the T20Is last year, hasn’t fully recovered from his illness. He was a revelation.
The official social media handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also shared an update about speed merchant Arshdeep after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first T20I. Stand-in skipper Pandya admitted to former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik that he wanted to bat first in the series opener against Sri Lanka. Excited. I’ve always been excited to play for my country, but obviously being in charge now makes it even more special.
I’m looking forward to seeing how these new guys express themselves. We planned to bat first. Although this is a chasing ground, we prefer to put ourselves in more challenging situations in the bilaterals. We will ensure that we give everyone who comes here confidence. Gill and Mavi are today’s two debutants. “Arshdeep could not be reached,” Pandya stated.
XIs for the first Twenty20 International between Sri Lanka and India:
India: Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, and Yuzvendra Chahal are Ishan Kishan (w).
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, and Dilshan Madushanka are the other members of this group.