Won't be an easy ride

India’s Shikhar Dhawan plays on the off-side during the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday. Pic/AP,PTI

India's stand-in limited overs captain, Shikhar Dhawan wants to see a repeat of his team's ODI sparkling show when the T20I series against Sri Lanka kicks off in Colombo today.

The left-handed batsman, who led India to a 2-1 ODI series win, admitted that the T20I series will be a competitive one.

‘SL have good youngsters'

"There will be good competition as we saw the Lankan team's good improvement. They played well in [last] two ODIs. They have very good youngsters. Having played three games, both teams know the strengths and weaknesses of each other very well," Dhawan said while replying to Sunday mid-day's question on how he rates Dasun Shanaka's young Lankan side, during Saturday's virtual interaction.

"We will, of course, go in with our best XI. We will try to win the first two matches and then according to the situation experiment in the last game, if needed," Dhawan remarked on the eve of the first T20I.

On Friday, India fielded five debutants - Chetan Sakariya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Nitish Rana, Rahul Chahar and Sanju Samson - and lost the game by three wickets.

Also Read: IND vs SL: Whitewash on cards

"We have to win the [T20I] series. In the last ODI, there was a good opportunity to give some youngsters a taste of international cricket, because we had
already won the series," said Dhawan.

The forthcoming three T20I games provide a final opportunity for India players to showcase their form and consistency prior to the T20I World Cup to be held in the UAE and Oman from October 17.

Personal goals for Dhawan

Dhawan wants to cash in and cement his place in India's T20I squad. "I am looking forward to this on a personal note; perform here and make my place stronger for the World Cup," added Dhawan, who has scored 1,673 runs in 65 T20 internationals.

Also Read: Chahar credits Dhoni for match-winning knock