Sanju Samson To Get One More Chance, 3 Players OUT? India's Likely Playing XI For 3rd T20I Against Sri Lanka

After beating Sri Lanka by 43 runs and 7 wickets in the first two T20Is of the ongoing three-match series, the Indian men’s cricket team would like to get the better of Charith Asalanka’s men in the third match as well, which is set to take place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (July 30). In Gautam Gambhir’s first series as head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, Indian players have produced a super show both with the bat and ball, and they would like to continue it in the third match as well to clean sweep the shortest format series.

India had to make one forced change in the playing XI for the 2^nd T20I because of a neck spasm to star batter Shubman Gill. The 24-year-old batter is expected to be fit for the third match. In his place, Sanju Samson got a chance to play in the 2^nd T20I, but he failed to make the most of the opportunity and got out for a golden duck. It will be interesting to see if he gets another chance to play.

With series already in the bag, Indian team management could make multiple changes to the playing XI for the dead rubber, and the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar, who have warmed the bench in the first two matches, could get a chance.

While Sundar can be a like-for-like replacement for Axar Patel, Dube can come in for Hardik Pandya, and Khaleel may replace left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

Rishabh Pant played in the first two T20Is, and since he is part of the ODI squad as well, he could also be rested for the third T20I, and instead of him, Samson may get a chance to play as a wicketkeeper-batter.

Young Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has impressed with his batting in the first two matches at the top, and the 22-year-old star, who is the only batter to score more than 1000 runs in international cricket in 2024, would like to come up with another big show.

India’s likely playing XI for the 3rd T20I against Sri Lanka: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.