IND vs SL T20Is: Irfan Pathan Names Sri Lanka Players Who Could Be 'Real Threats' To India

Team India's former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advised India to be careful with some Sri Lankan players who could pose a threat to the hosts.

Pathan named the players who would be match winners for Sri Lanka and could be a threat to India.

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The three-match T20 series between India and Sri Lanka will begin on Tuesday, January 3. The Sri Lankan team has arrived in India for the high-octane clash. A second-string Indian team consisting of young players will take on Sri Lanka under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. Match-winning players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are not part of IND vs SL T20 series but the visitors won't make the mistake of taking the Blues lightly.

Ahead of IND vs SL T20 series, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advised India to be careful with some Sri Lankan players who could pose a threat to the hosts. In January, the Indian team will play a three-match T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka. Hardik Pandya will captain the T20 team, while Suryakumar Ydav has been made the vice-captain.

Irfan Pathan was quoted by Sportskeeda as saying that team India will have to be careful against Sri Lanka. 

"Sri Lanka is not that bad a team. We know what they did in the Asia Cup. They really did well. We have to be careful," said Pathan.

Pathan named the players who would be match winners for Sri Lanka and could be a threat to India. As per Pathan, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Mahesh Thikshana and skipper Dasun Shanaka could trouble India during the series.

"I really feel that Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga as well as Lahiru Kumara - who has got express pace, Maheesh Theekshana - these four-five guys can be real threats. Their captain Dasun Shanaka, I quite like that pick, he is fearless. He has got that long handle as well when he bats."

India's T20I squad against Sri Lanka: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.