Nidahas Trophy 2018 [Preview]

The Nidahas Trophy is a T20 Tri-series competition that will feature India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in order to commemorate Sri Lanka’s 70 years of Independence. It is going to first-ever T20 Tri-series played in the subcontinent in the month of March.The competition will begin from 6th March when hosts Sri Lanka take on India in the first game at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Each side will four games each with the finale will be played on 18th March.

All the six games will be played at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Hosts Sri Lanka will come into the series on the back of a successful tour to Bangladesh. The side managed to beat Bangladesh across all three formats. Angelo Matthew has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury as Dinesh Chandimal will captain the side for the Nidahas Trophy.

Upul Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka will hold the key for Sri Lanka at the top of the innings. Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis will make up the middle order for the side. Akila Dhananjaya has been doing well for Sri Lanka in the spin department. Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana are pace options for the side.Jeevan Mendis and Thisara Perera are two all-rounders included in the squad for Nidahas Trophy 2018.

India have been in splendid form after hammering South Africa in the one-day and T20 series. The new-look side will be led by Rohit Sharma who will be keen to continue their winning run in this series. Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jaspreet Bumrah have not been picked for the series in order to give them adequate rest ahead of the grueling schedule ahead this year.

Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul will form the top order while experienced duo of Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik will try to produce superlative performances for the side. Manish Pandey was impressive in the t20 series against South Africa and would be keen to continue his good form in this competition.

The options in the bowling department are all players that did exceptionally well in Indian Premier League last year. Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur are included in the squad for the Nidahas Trophy. Thakur was impressive with the ball in hand in the three-match T20 series played in South Africa. Yuzvendra Chahal turned out to be a potent weapon in South Africa as India won their first-ever bilateral series against South Africa. Axar Patel is the second spin option included in the lineup while Rishabh Pant will take the gloves for the series.

Bangladesh will be keen to do well after a disappointing home season. They lost the tri-nation series final against Sri Lanka. The side lost the Test and T20I series against Sri Lanka at home. Shakib Al Hasan has been sidelined due to injury while Sabbir Rahman makes a comeback into the squad. Ariful Haque, Abu Hyder Rony, and Nurul Hasan are new players included in the squad for Nidahas Trophy. Mahmudullah Riyad will lead the side in absence of Shakib who has been ruled out of the competition due to injury.