The six-match series between India and Sri Lanka is going to start on the 3rd of January.
For this, the players of the Sri Lankan side have already started their preparations at the R Premadasa Stadium and Max Cricket Academy’s indoor nets.
Their practice sessions will go on till the 30th of December after which the team will fly to India on the 1st of January.
Head coach Chris Silverwood and assistant coach Naveed Nawaz are overlooking the training sessions.
Sri Lanka has put in two specialist ODI players Nuwanindu Fernando and Jeffery Vandersay.
Both these players will be replacing Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nuwan Thushara after the end of the T20I series.
Stats for Nuwanindu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, and Sadeera Samarawickrama
Nuwanindu Fernando is still an uncapped player for Sri Lanka and will look to make his debut in the ODI series against India.
He has played 31 first-class matches where he has scored 1771 runs with an average of 40.25.
Normally, Nuwanindu bats either as an opener or at the No.3 position.
On the other hand, Sadeera Samarawickrama is also a part of this squad after 5 years.
Samarawickrama last played for Sri Lanka back in 2017.
Experienced Dinesh Chandimal has not been able to get a spot because of the presence of Samarawickrama.
In all, Samarawickrama has played 4 Tests, 7 ODIs, and 9 T20Is for Sri Lanka. He has been among the run-scorers in the domestic circuit.
He also got the Player of the Series at the recently concluded Lanka Premier League.
Thirdly, Avishka Fernando has been in top form yet again and has proved it through his performances in the Lanka Premier League.
He last played a T20I game against Australia after which he got injured and underwent surgery in Sydney.
Avishka missed the entirety of the T20 World Cup for Sri Lanka.
He has played 26 ODIs and 32 T20Is for Sri Lanka and should be able to do well against India.
Other players back in the Sri Lanka squad for India series
Apart from these three, Sri Lanka has also included the likes of Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, and Jeffrey Vandersay.
Sri Lanka squad for ODI/T20I series against India
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwanindu Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Chamika Karunaratne, Avishka Fernando
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