- Captain Virat Kohli in good form
- Sri Lanka coming from a defeat against Australia
- Strong bowling line-up for India
India vs Sri Lanka T20 match prediction
India is set to host Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Barsapara Stadium, in Guwahati, this Sunday evening.
India’s dress rehearsal ahead of the World T20 has already begun and the upcoming series against Sri Lanka is also a crucial part. India is fresh from the T20 series win against West Indies and will be looking to extend their purple patch. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will be trying to turn the tides after a 0-3 loss to Australia last year. For us, it’s all about grabbing the opportunity to win some easy cash at the end of the day. How to go about? Just follow my analysis, place bets and you will know how.
Virat Kohli top scorer in all matches against Sri Lanka
You cannot put him away from your mind even for a second, can you? It is normal to expect that Virat Kohli is going to steal the show when he takes the field for India, but I have a special reason for backing him up for this particular bet. To be precise, the batsman demolishes Sri Lanka in T20Is and I am not joking. His scores in the four H2H matches – 82, 56, 77, 68, averaging 56.6. That’s crazy, isn’t it? But let me inform you that he was not only the top scorer for India in those matches but was also the highest scorer in each of the games overall. Phew, that’s some stat!
Kohli’s recent record is also pretty impressive, having played extraordinary against the West Indies in December last year. His score in the last five T20Is – 70, 19, 94, 9, 72 at an average of 52.8! In 2019, Kohli featured in 10 T20Is, scoring 466 runs at an average of 77.66. The last time he played at the Barsapara Stadium, it was an ODI match where he scored 140 runs. So, the conditions won’t be alien for him. These facts justify why this bet is purely a winning one.
Chahal was the top bowler last 3 of 4 games vs Sri Lanka
The leggy might not have done enough to match his potential in the past year or so, but he has a special connection with Sri Lanka nonetheless. That is why I was inclined to this bet once I came across his stats and believe me, you are going to feel the same soon. He has played five T20Is against the neighbours, his figures – 1/34, 2/37, 4/52, 4/23, 3/43 (almost 3 wickets per match). Chahal was the pick of the bowlers in the three of five H2H matches. Moreover, in the last two matches against similar opponents at home, he was the top bowler each time with figures of 4/52 and 4/23 respectively.
Even in the last five matches in India, he’s been amongst the wickets, his figures – 1/26, 2/36, 1/43, 2/28, 1/24 (was the top bowler on two occasions). Chahal has played 18 matches in India so far, picked up 29 wickets at an average of 19.03 and a career best bowling figures of six for 25. The last time he played at the Barsapara Stadium, the ODI match ended in favour of India and Chahal was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with figures of three for 41. This is a full-proof bet which you should not miss out.
Kohli has hit 30 boundaries against Sri Lanka
Well, if we are talking about Virat Kohli we do not have to think twice about whether he’s going to hit at least three boundaries. For a player who averages above 50 in T20Is, the target is a cakewalk. But, still let me give you his numbers, so that you actually invest on this bet. The Indian skipper has struck 15 boundaries in the last five matches (3.2 per match). To be honest, that’s not convincing as per his standards. So, let me put it this way, in the four T20I’s played against the Lankans, he’s hit 30 boundaries at a rate of 7.5 per innings.
If that’s still not convincing, have a look at his overall T20I stats. Kohli played 75 matches and struck a whopping 247 fours at a rate of 3.29 per innings. The last time he played at the venue, it was an ODI match, he scored 140 runs which included 21 fours! In India, he’s played 29 T20Is during which he racked up 97 boundaries at a rate of 3.34 per innings. I guess there’s no option but to go for this bet.
