The 3-match T20 series between India and Sri Lanka kicks off today with the 1st T20 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The remaining two matches of the series will be played at the picturesque HPCA Stadium Dharamshala. The venue will be hosting the two T20Is on consecutive days i.e. on the 26th & 27th February. The Pitch Report and the T20 Records of the HPCA Cricket Stadium Dharamshala can be found ahead in the article, along with the Weather Forecast for IND vs SL matches.
After thrashing the Windies 3-0 in both, the T20Is as well as the ODIs, the Indian side is in great form and looking good to beat any opposition. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be without Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for the Sri Lanka series as they’ve been rested. The Indian side will also be missing the services of Surya Kumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar as they are suffering from injuries.
The Sri Lankan side though is coming after a 4-1 T20 series loss against Australia, the players might have picked up some confidence after beating the Oz in the fifth T20. The Dasun Shanaka-led Srilankan side would be looking to better their performances with the bat against India, which they failed to do in Australia.
HPCA Dharamshala Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is supportive of the fast bowlers. It offers a significant bit of pace and bounce to the quicks. The surface also tends to provide some extra swing off the pitch in the initial overs. The batsmen after seeing off the initial overs can score big runs given the short boundaries in the venue. The spinners might go for big runs if they do not bowl in the right areas here.
Dharamshala T20 Records
There’s a fair reduction in the average second innings score as compared to that of the first innings, in Dharamshala. Talking about the past results, out of the total of 7 matches played in the venue, 4 have been won by the teams batting first. The T20 Records of the HPCA Stadium Dharamshala hence represent that the teams setting a total here tend to have more success.
| Total matches | 7 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 2 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 140 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 124 |
| Highest total recorded | 200/3 (19.4 Ov) by RSA vs IND |
| Highest score chased | 200/3 (19.4 Ov) by RSA vs IND |
| Lowest score defended | 59/5 (6 Ov) by NED vs IRE |
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Weather Forecast for IND vs SL matches
There is a forecast of rain towards the end of this week in Dharamshala. The fans might be in for a delayed start for the 2nd IND vs SL T20 as there’s a clear forecast of rain on the 26th in Dharamshala. The sky would remain partly cloudy during the third and the last IND vs SL T20 as well. However, the fans might be able to enjoy the game as there’s no forecast of rain for the day.