The Men in Blue will be back in action when they go up against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series followed by as many T20Is starting July 18th. It will be the first time India tour the country since THAT iconic Nidahas Trophy final in 2018, and the matches will grab eyeballs for a variety of reasons.
The series may look like a mismatch on paper. India haven’t lost a bilateral series in white-ball cricket against Sri Lanka since August 1997, and Sri Lanka hasn’t seen the best of their cricket in the recent past. However, some of India’s most experienced players are in the UK preparing for the England Tests, and it is a hungry and supremely talented, but relatively inexperienced Indian squad that has landed on the island. The Lankan lions too would want to heal their wounds from England with a good show at home.
Having said that, as Team India fans, we’ve got three big reasons to look forward to the series beyond the strength and form of the squads.
The Wall as Team India’s Head Coach
To say that Rahul Dravid is one of India’s most revered and beloved cricketers wouldn’t be embellishing it in the slightest. Apart from all that he achieved during his playing days, Rahul Dravid’s stint with the country’s youth and ‘A’ teams has been widely credited for the strength in depth Team India possesses today.
The veteran batsman becoming Head Coach in the absence of Ravi Shastri in Sri Lanka has undoubtedly pleased many an Indian fan and we’d all love to see one of our favourites back in the limelight again.
It’s also no secret that the players love and respect The Wall. Youngsters and experienced players alike will take this as an opportunity to pick his brains all tour, and hopefully come out with the results that they desire.
The Young Gun reunites with The Wall 💙
— Delhi Capitals (Stay Home. Wear Double Masks😷) (@DelhiCapitals) July 6, 2021
Will Rahul Dravid bring out the best of @PrithviShaw once again? 🤩🤞🏻#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/SJ3T1svlpX
The Gabbar-Shaw Show Returns
This reason is all the more special for DC fans as our favourite opening jodi is all set to do their thing in the India blue.
Prithvi Shaw’s aggression and powerplay heroics combined with Shikhar Dhawan’s beautiful strokeplay and game-awareness meant that the Delhi Capitals pair was the most successful opening duo in IPL 2021. They managed five 50+ partnerships in eight games, and we can’t wait for the Gabbar-Shaw Show to set the stage on fire once again in Sri Lanka.
To say that the Team India captain for the tour loves playing against Sri Lanka would be an understatement. Gabbar averages 70+ in ODIs and 40+ in T20Is against Sri Lanka, and just 17 runs in the first ODI will see him become the fastest player to 1000 ODI runs against Sri Lanka. He also has the highest average against Sri Lanka among any Indian batsman who has scored a minimum of 200 runs against the side.
As for Prithvi Shaw, it will be his first white-ball appearance for India since February 2020. A strong showing here will do his confidence and further chances a world of good.
New Faces Galore
As many as six players could make their debuts for Team India in the coming weeks. The Sri Lanka vs India series is the perfect opportunity for Rahul Dravid and Co. to provide the next group of India’s young guns with some international exposure.
View this post on Instagram
In the absence of the regular stars, the new faces have a golden chance to make a mark with the world watching.
Devdutt Padikkal’s talent is unquestionable. His IPL performances have made him a household name, but can he do the same at the top level? Will Varun Chakravarthy be able to bamboozle the Lankan batsman as well as he does batsman in the TNPL and IPL? Can Ruturaj Gaikwad and Nitish Rana approach international games the same way they approach IPL games and produce similar results?
Of course, we might not get all of these answers. But the prospect of receiving even a few of these answers is enough to get us excited for these rookies and the future of Indian cricket.
All in all, the series promises so much and there should be a lot in it for the spectators and players alike. Is there any other reason for you to look forward to the series coming up? Tell us in the comments below.
The Men in Blue will be back in action when they go up against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series followed by as many T20Is starting July 18th. It will be the first time India tour the country since THAT iconic Nidahas Trophy final in 2018, and the matches will grab eyeballs for a variety of reasons.
The series may look like a mismatch on paper. India haven’t lost a bilateral series in white-ball cricket against Sri Lanka since August 1997, and Sri Lanka hasn’t seen the best of their cricket in the recent past. However, some of India’s most experienced players are in the UK preparing for the England Tests, and it is a hungry and supremely talented, but relatively inexperienced Indian squad that has landed on the island. The Lankan lions too would want to heal their wounds from England with a good show at home.
Having said that, as Team India fans, we’ve got three big reasons to look forward to the series beyond the strength and form of the squads.
The Wall as Team India’s Head Coach
To say that Rahul Dravid is one of India’s most revered and beloved cricketers wouldn’t be embellishing it in the slightest. Apart from all that he achieved during his playing days, Rahul Dravid’s stint with the country’s youth and ‘A’ teams has been widely credited for the strength in depth Team India possesses today.
The veteran batsman becoming Head Coach in the absence of Ravi Shastri in Sri Lanka has undoubtedly pleased many an Indian fan and we’d all love to see one of our favourites back in the limelight again.
It’s also no secret that the players love and respect The Wall. Youngsters and experienced players alike will take this as an opportunity to pick his brains all tour, and hopefully come out with the results that they desire.
The Young Gun reunites with The Wall 💙
— Delhi Capitals (Stay Home. Wear Double Masks😷) (@DelhiCapitals) July 6, 2021
Will Rahul Dravid bring out the best of @PrithviShaw once again? 🤩🤞🏻#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/SJ3T1svlpX
The Gabbar-Shaw Show Returns
This reason is all the more special for DC fans as our favourite opening jodi is all set to do their thing in the India blue.
Prithvi Shaw’s aggression and powerplay heroics combined with Shikhar Dhawan’s beautiful strokeplay and game-awareness meant that the Delhi Capitals pair was the most successful opening duo in IPL 2021. They managed five 50+ partnerships in eight games, and we can’t wait for the Gabbar-Shaw Show to set the stage on fire once again in Sri Lanka.
To say that the Team India captain for the tour loves playing against Sri Lanka would be an understatement. Gabbar averages 70+ in ODIs and 40+ in T20Is against Sri Lanka, and just 17 runs in the first ODI will see him become the fastest player to 1000 ODI runs against Sri Lanka. He also has the highest average against Sri Lanka among any Indian batsman who has scored a minimum of 200 runs against the side.
As for Prithvi Shaw, it will be his first white-ball appearance for India since February 2020. A strong showing here will do his confidence and further chances a world of good.
New Faces Galore
As many as six players could make their debuts for Team India in the coming weeks. The Sri Lanka vs India series is the perfect opportunity for Rahul Dravid and Co. to provide the next group of India’s young guns with some international exposure.
View this post on Instagram
In the absence of the regular stars, the new faces have a golden chance to make a mark with the world watching.
Devdutt Padikkal’s talent is unquestionable. His IPL performances have made him a household name, but can he do the same at the top level? Will Varun Chakravarthy be able to bamboozle the Lankan batsman as well as he does batsman in the TNPL and IPL? Can Ruturaj Gaikwad and Nitish Rana approach international games the same way they approach IPL games and produce similar results?
Of course, we might not get all of these answers. But the prospect of receiving even a few of these answers is enough to get us excited for these rookies and the future of Indian cricket.
All in all, the series promises so much and there should be a lot in it for the spectators and players alike. Is there any other reason for you to look forward to the series coming up? Tell us in the comments below.
