Sri Lanka went in with three front-line fast bowlers, with Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga as the front-line spin options. Dasun Sanaka, the former captain, also found a place in the line-up as an all-rounder.
India opted to stretch their batting, with Axar Patel at No. 8. This meant they had four specialist bowlers, including Axar, while Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag were expected to field the ball. Rinku Singh was also preferred as a finisher over Shivam Dube.
The Indian team management also backed Rishabh Pant to continue at No.3, a position he held in the T20 World Cup, leaving Sanju Samson to wait for his chances.
World champions India are coming off a 4-1 T20I series win against a largely second-string side in Zimbabwe earlier in the month. Most of the Sri Lankan players come after a month’s stint in the Lankan Premier League.
Both sides have a new coach: while Gautam Gambhir takes over from Rahul Dravid on a full-time basis, Sri Lanka have handed over the reigns to former captain Sanath Jayasuriya on an interim basis.
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (captain), 6 Wanindu Hasaranga, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Matheesha Pathirana, 10 Asitha Ferushanndo, 10
India: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh,