West Indies opt to bowl after winning toss against Sri Lanka
The West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first in a rain-delayed T20I against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. The toss was pushed back by half an hour due to the wet conditions. West Indies captain Rovman Powell explained that the decision to bowl was influenced by the moisture in the pitch, which could aid the fast bowlers early on. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka mentioned he would have made the same choice.
West Indies have handed a debut to 26-year-old Barbados-born seam-bowling allrounder Shamar Springer. Their pace attack also includes Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, and Romario Shepherd, with Gudakesh Motie leading the spin department.
Sri Lanka has recalled Kamindu Mendis, following his impressive form in the Test series. On the bowling front, Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando will handle the pace duties, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are their main spinners. Bhanuka Rajapaksa returns to international cricket for the first time since early 2023, and seam-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe will play his second international match.
Sri Lanka XI
1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis, 3. Kusal Perera, 4. Kamindu Mendis, 5. Charith Asalanka (capt.), 6. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamindu Wickramasinghe, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Matheesha Pathirana, 11. Asitha Fernando
West Indies XI:
1. Evin Lewis, 2. Brandon King, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Roston Chase, 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Rovman Powell (capt.), 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Shamar Springer, 9. Alzarri Joseph, 10. Gudakesh Motie, 11. Shamar Joseph