LPL 2023: Pitch report and playing XI for inaugural match between Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers

The 2023 season of the Lanka Premier League will start on July 30th with the match between Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers. The team from Colombo will be making their maiden appearance in the league. Jaffna Kings are the defending champions. The first five matches of the league will take place in R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Historically, the pitch at Colombo has aided the spinners well.  

In the last five T20I matches, the average score at the venue has been 128. Though the scores suggest a low-scoring thriller, one might expect better scoring rates in the league. Very often, the boundary ropes are brought down during the T20 season to favor the batters. As it is the start of the season, the pitches might play well and might not slow down quickly.  

The Powerplay overs become crucial for the batters, as there will not be much moisture on the surface and the dry nature of the wicket means the ball will come easy to the bat early on. With the progression of the game, the scoring would become difficult. The spinners will come into play in the middle overs. Slower ones and cutters would be preferred by the pacers.  

A total of around 165 would be very good for the teams batting first. In the last 5 T20I games, the teams batting second have won 4 and lost only once. One can expect the captains to chase. In the recent matches in ACC Men’s Emerging Asia Cup, the pitches were slow and aided the spinners well. One might expect the same kinds of tracks at the venue in the league.  

Probable playing XI of the teams

The probable playing XI of Colombo Strikers is Babar Azam, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella (C & WK), Iftikhar Ahmed, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Mohammad Nawaz, Chamika Karunaratne, Lakshan Sandakan, Naseem Shah, Matheesha Pathirana  

The probable playing XI of Jaffna Kings is Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Chris Lynn, Dilshan Madushka (WK), Charith Asalanka, David Miller, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (C), Dunith Wellalage, Hardus Viljoen, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijaykanth Viyaskanth.