IND vs SL: The first match of the three-match T20 series between India and Sri Lanka is being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Team India, led by stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya is aiming to start the series and new year with a win, with no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on display. The Sri Lankan team decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
Notably, Arshdeep Singh, currently one of the most potent bowlers in the Blues, surprisingly is not part of India XI for the series opener in Mumbai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to Twitter to reveal why the young Indian bowling mainstay is not playing IND vs SL 1st T20I in Mumbai.
"Note - Arshdeep Singh wasn't available for selection for the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka since he has still not fully recovered from his illness," BCCI wrote on Twitter.
Arshdeep Singh, who made his international debut last year, was nominated for ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2022. The left-arm fast bowler has so far picked a total of 33 wickets in 21 T20 matches at an economy of 8.17.
Arshdeep Singh's unavailability helped Shivam Mavi play his debut game for team India, against Sri Lanka. Mavi was recently bought by Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 mini-auction for a jaw-dropping INR 6 crores.
India Playing XI vs Sri Lanka: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal