The Indian cricket team had an intense practice session to prepare for the first T20 against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Watch the video here!
For most Indian cricket fans at the moment, not watching the game seems more appealing than watching their team play Sri Lanka.
Having contested the Islanders in what felt like a zillion games, the Indian cricket team embarked on an intriguing tour of South Africa. But what do you know, Sri Lanka is the first team India is taking on after returning.
The Nidahas Trophy kicks-off on Tuesday with India and Sri Lanka going head to head at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It is a T20 tri-series, with Bangladesh being the third team, and will, perhaps, go down as one of the most pointless ones in the history of the game.
The only silver lining for Indian fans is that they will get to watch some fresh faces on the field. With the likes of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni being rested, the Men In Blue will sport an all new look.
Team India, on its part, is not taking the series lightly. Skipper Rohit Sharma has likened it to the English Premier League, saying no team can be considered the favourite in a T20 tourney.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put out a post on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday, in which the Indian team was seen doing some rigourous fielding drills.
"Lot of intensity during practice on the eve of the 1st game of the Nidahas Trophy. An exciting contest awaits here in Colombo. Action starts soon," the tweet read.
Here's the tweet
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha on Monday termed India favourites in the triangular T20 series, despite entering the tournament with a second-string side that does not have the likes of Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
India outplayed the Sri Lankans in bilateral rubbers in recent times. "If you go by the rankings, India is the top team in the tournament, so they always start ahead of the other teams," Hathurusingha said on the eve of the tournament.
He added, "Whoever plays for India, it is still a very strong team. We have to start well because we haven't been doing well at home. With Bangladesh, because of the last series, we probably have a little edge over them mentally."
Although Sri Lanka have recently showed improvement in Bangladesh, their record against India is woeful. India have won the seven most-recent T20s between these sides, and are ranked third in the world, while Sri Lanka are eighth.
Kohli and Dhoni have been rested from the Nidahas Trophy. Rohit was named stand-in captain of India's 15-man squad, with Shikhar Dhawan his deputy. India also rested several other limited-overs regulars in fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar and Jasprit Bumrah, wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
(Inputs from PTI)
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