We are just a week apart from witnessing an exciting series between India and Sri Lanka as the Lankan lions host an Indian side that is not their strongest on paper but could still prove to be a menace for Sri Lanka who has been far from their best.
India will be led by Shikhar Dhawan, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take up the role of backing Dhawan. Apart from these two and Hardik Pandya, we have several youngsters who have been handed an opportunity to express themselves.
With so many prospects on the tour, India would be hoping that they get several contenders for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup later this fall.
So today, let's have a look at five Indian players to look out for in this series.
Shikhar Dhawan
Dhawan the batsman has been promising always but this time the world will get to see Dhawan the captain. Shikhar Dhawan has been the skipper of his former IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad by this time it will be a new atmosphere, more serious, and extremely crucial for him as he looks forward to getting back into India's squad for the World Cup.
Injuries have been a concern for the "Gabbar" of cricket and hopefully, this series would set the tone for several other challenges coming ahead of him later this year.
Pandya Brothers
While Krunal Pandya was impressive against England in his debut, Hardik Pandya would also try to push himself harder to make a fitting return to international cricket.
Another player who was in decent touch but an unfortunate back injury made things worse for Pandya. Since then he has been doing well and the IPL season was the great proof of it. However, being one of the most experienced players on the tour, Hardik will have to raise his game and cement his spot for India's upcoming tours.
Krunal has had a late but brilliant start to his career. The future seems uncertain but he can surely put up his name in contention with some promising performances with the bat and ball.
Kuldeep Yadav
A player who has lost his spot in India's limited-overs side, but he is still remembered as a player who was a constant threat to every batsman, be it the ODIs or the T20s.
It's not that Kuldeep Yadav's career is over but he does need to get back quickly, move his head up and focus on his lengths. It's not hidden that he has hit a rough patch but that should only make him better.
This series can be the best time for Kuldeep to get back his rhythm, form, and confidence. The World Cup is still months away and a good series, followed by an impressive IPL could be another turning point in his career.
Suryakumar Yadav
Will "Sky" produce some sky-ranging performances? Well, if you look at his numbers, Suryakumar Yadav would've been eyeing this tour from the day he was picked.
There couldn't be a better opportunity than this for him to make a mark in the minds of selectors, putting him forward as one of the contenders to play the ICC World Twenty20.
His record in T20s is staggering and his performances in the latest IPL season that was suspended midway was also good. Great performance on this tour, with a decent IPL, would at least guarantee him to be in contention for the World Cup. However, it also depends on how his counterparts fare in this test.
Do you think Suryakumar Yadav will feature in the World Twenty20 this year?
Chetan Sakariya
A small man but a gigantic inspiration for millions of cricketers, Chetan has dealt with a difficult past. However, he is a prime example of how one should never give up and continue to work to accomplish his dream.
If the effort and dedication are up to the mark, you won't be far from success. Sakariya was having a brilliant IPL but the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the bio-bubbles brought a delay to what was panning out to be an impressive IPL season.
Just like others, this tour would be worth a lot for Sakariya and could turn out to be a founding stone in his future as a cricketer. The left-arm pacer has enough passion within himself, but will he be able to channelize it perfectly in the upcoming series?
We'll find out soon. These players will be contesting not just in a series but also towards their future and that's why they will be the ones to look for in India's Tour of Sri Lanka.
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