IND vs SL: Aakash Chopra predicts India Playing XI for India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I

India have made some widescale changes for IND vs SL T20I series against Sri Lanka at home as many of the senior players who were part of the T20 World Cup 2022 campaign are not included in this team. Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, Team India will be hosting Sri Lanka for the first T20I game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 3 January, 2023. With a lot of youngsters picked in the T20I squad, it will be a big challenge for the Indian team management to chose the best possible playing combination.

India Playing XI

Former India cricketer and now a famous commentator, Aakash Chopra, recently picked his top 7 players that might be part of the India playing XI for the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka starting on Tuesday.

1. Ishan Kishan
2. Shubman Gill
3. Suryakumar Yadav
4. Deepak Hooda
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Sanju Samson
7. Axar Patel / Washington Sundar

According to the cricketer turned commentator, Shubman Gill is expected to make his T20I debut and open the batting alongside left-handed Ishan Kishan. In a surprising prediction, Chopra has picked spin-bowling all-rounder Deepak Hooda to bat at No.4 spot while Suryakumar Yadav who is also the vice-captain of this T20I team will be batting at the third position.

After having done really well in the recent while in ODI cricket lower down the order, Sanju Samson might also be considered to bat at No.6 in the IND vs SL 1st T20I encounter. Aakash Chopra thinks that there will be a toss up between Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for the second spinner’s slot who will bat at No.7 position as both of them can contribute well with the bat. Incidentally, the former Indian Test opener did not pick any of the bowlers in this line-up.

Today, India’s batting order might look like this

1. Ishan
2. Gill
3. SKY
4. Hooda
5. Hardik
6. Sanju

There might be a toss up between Axar and Sundar for the spin all-rounder spot at 7. #IndvSL #AakashVani

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 3, 2023

India vs Sri Lanka 2023 Schedule