PHOTO: AFP
MS Dhoni’s side vaulted seven places in the T20 rankings after their recent 3-0 away series victory against Australia and will look to build on their momentum when they face Sri Lanka.
After a relatively disappointing tour of Australia, India’s spin king Ravichandran Ashwin will look to the series as an opportunity to get back in the groove ahead of the Asia Cup, which is being held in Bangladesh ahead of the World T20.
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Dhoni is a big fan of the lanky off-spinnner and told reporters last month that Ashwin’s dip in form was due in part to the side’s increasing reliance on him in all formats.
“He just makes my job slightly easy, especially for a consistent period of time when my fast bowlers have not done well,” Dhoni said in Australia.
While India carry a familiar look, Sri Lanka have been forced to field a depleted side with a number of their top players staying at home.
The likes of regular T20 skipper Lasith Malinga, Test captain Angelo Mathews and premier spinner Rangana Herath are racing against time to get fit for the World T20.
Having been recently outplayed by New Zealand in the recent Test, ODI and T20 series, Sri Lanka will also be without the services of veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who will miss the first game with a hand injury.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2016.
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