New Delhi: With the Indian squads for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh and the subsequent ICC World Twenty20 championship to be announced on February 5, the home series against Sri Lanka prior to that plays a huge importance.
India blanked Australia 3-0 in the recently concluded T20 series last month and therefore enter the three-match T20s against the Lankans as favourites.
On Friday, with the look alike, majority of similar faces in the current squad will be seen in both Asia Cup and the World Cup but there are still few places up for grabs.
The Indian squad against Sri Lanka has new entrants in Manish Pandey and Pawan Negi with Bhuvneshwar Kumar getting the nod in place of Umesh Yadav.
Pandey who scored a ton for India in the fifth ODI against Australia in Sydney, could make a cut in the side as a back-up. Even if he doesn't, the Sri Lanka series means he can play some risk free cricket.
Interestingly it will be seen whether Bhuvi will be given the nod or whether the selectors will opt for Ishant Sharma, Barinder Sran or the dropped Umesh Yadav.
Apart from this the rest will likely feature in both squads (Asia Cup and World Cup). India the meanwhile, will look to build on their win against the Aussies and perform well against Lanka.
Home conditions will be of huge importance besides the inexperienced Sri Lanka side. The team will hope to have a better look at their middle-order apart from Suresh Raina who chipped in alongside the front three against the Aussies.
Veteran Harbhajan Singh will hope to have an outing against the Lankans in order to build his confidence and be ready as the back up to Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin who will start as favourites.
The good thing for Dhoni is that he has a team that looks upbeat and confident at the moment and that can see him be more confident for both the mega tourneys.
India would play a three-game T20 series at home against Sri Lanka from February 9, ahead of the multi-nation T20 events.
