Sreesanth doubtful for Twenty20 against Sri Lanka

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NAGPUR - India’s comeback pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is doubtful for the Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka here Wednesday.

The Kerala seamer, who made a successful return in the Test series that India won 2-0, is down with an stomach upset.

“We are hoping that he will be fit before the match,” skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

The Indian team will have a different look to the side that became the No.1 Test team after their emphatic win against Sri Lanka. Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have been rested.

Ishant Sharma, who has been dropped from first two ODIs due to rusty form, and Ashish Nehra will be the bowling mainstays. Sharma would be eager to get back his rhythm.

Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda, Uttar Pradesh seamer Sudeep Tyagi and Tamil Nadu all-rounder R. Ashwin are in the squad and would be looking for an opportunity to show their talent keeping in mind the Twenty20 World Cup scheduled in the West Indies in April.

In the batting department, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina would be looking to make a case for themselves for the new season.

After missing the last Test at Mumbai, Gautam Gambhir will be back partnering Virender Sehwag to open the innings.

Skipper Dhoni clearly spelt out the importance of the two matches.

“The Twenty20 World Cup is in April-May, so we will be focussing on that,” Dhoni said.

The tourists will be boosted with the return of the fiery Lasith Malinga, who is expected to lead the bowling attack.

Sri Lanka,too, will have some new faces in all-rounders Chintaka Jayasinghe, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara.

Veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya will provide the flair though his batting order is still to be sorted out.

Teams:

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan, R. Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ashok Dinda, Sudeep Tyagi, Pragyan Ojha.

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis Images, Muttiah Muralitharan, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chanaka Welegedara.