Hardik Pandya gives insight on India's playing style against Sri Lanka in upcoming series

Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

After India crashed out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England in Australia, there was a sense that something had to be done to reform India’s age-old T20 philosophy and bring some fresh young blood into the side. Move to 2023, and the Indian Cricket Board seems to have finally woken up from its slumber.

The team that will take the field against Sri Lanka will be a fresh side that will be led by Hardik Pandya with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy. This team will feature the likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Mavi and in the absence of senior players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

“We are not looking to settle anything, just want to play good cricket. But yes I ensure they will feel that they are playing India in India. So we don't need to go and sledge them, our body language is enough for them to feel intimidated, which we will do," Hardik Pandya said at the pre-match press conference on Monday.

Hardik Pandya said that he is looking forward to face Sri Lanka

“All the players who took the game away in the Asia Cup are the ones I'm looking forward to stop,” Despite the senior players not being there. India will look to beat the Sri Lankans and pay them in kind as the Islanders beat India at the Asia Cup by six wickets in Dubai which was the last time these two sides met.

As India will look to start afresh in T20 cricket under Pandya and play a fearless aggressive brand of cricket. The Sri Lankans will look to seek inspiration from their Asia Cup triumph that happened just before the 20-20 World Cup in Australia where the men from the Emerald Isle beat Pakistan to become champions of Asia in a riveting final.

India will start as favourites heading into the T20 series. But the Men in Blue will know that they should not take the Lankan challenge lightly and should be on their toes as the T20 format is the most open format and in a 20-over game, one breathtaking performance can turn a game on its head.