A depleted Indian cricket team is expected to take the field against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on July 28. While the hosts will look to win the second encounter to keep the series alive, the Rahul Dravid-coached team will be aiming to wrap up the series.

India beat a beleaguered Sri Lankan side by 38 runs in the opening encounter and is expected to dish out a repeat performance unless the team misses out on the services of Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav, who are getting ready to join the Indian team in the United Kingdom.

Apart from this, with Krunal Pandya testing positive for COVID and eight people who were in close contact with them not taking the field, a new-look Indian side is expected.

But there will be a focus on Samson, who has always been rated highly and as the “next big thing” but has flattered to deceive in an India jersey in all the chances that he has got.

An average of 13.75 across eight games with sufficient opportunity to bat at the top-order doesn’t bode well for Samson at a time when Indian cricket’s talent cupboard is overflowing with riches.

Rishabh Pant has left him far behind in terms of performance and Ishan Kishan, in the limited chances that he has got, has done no harm to his reputation.

With KL Rahul also wicketkeeping option in white-ball cricket, it is high time that the Kerala man justifies the show of faith by the Indian cricket system.

Samson and NCA director Rahul Dravid, who has been heavily invested in the former’s abilities, would want that his ward to do more than some breathtaking cover drives or flicked six off fast bowlers.

This series will be Samson’s last chance to impress for some time in case he fails to get a significant score in the next two games.

The other minor worry for the team would be Hardik Pandya’s batting form which has tapered off a bit in recent games.

His bowling has been steady but he is nowhere near what he used to be as a skiddy pacer before his back surgery.

The Indian bowling put up a fantastic show during the first game and Yuzvendra Chahal would like to do an encore with Varun Chakravarthy also fighting for that wrist spinner’s slot.

In fact, with more than 20 players supposed to be selected for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, both Chakravarthy and Chahal could be in the squad.

For Sri Lanka, the T20 series is a tougher test than the ODIs as they don’t have enforcers, who can take the game away with consistent big hits.

Teams (from):

India:

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (Wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, K Gowtham, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-captain), Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya

Sri Lanka:

Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dhananjaya De Silva, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Udara, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Shiran Fernando, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana.