The journey begins for India

India commence their new T20 journey towards the next World Cup in 2024 in earnest with a threematch series against Sri Lanka under the stewardship of Hardik Pandya at the Wankhede Stadium todayPandya did lead the country in a threegame rainhit series in New Zealand won by India 10 soon after Indiarsquos unsuccessful campaign in the T20 World Cup in AustraliaBut that was just testing of the waters and the real sojourn commences from the venue where India had won their second World Cup crown in 2011 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh DhoniHardik PandyaThe team picked for the series against Lanka doesnrsquot have either of the two top batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli which gives a clear indication of the thinking of the selectors ahead of the next T20 World CupIn the absence of the big two in the batting order it has been left to Pandya and newly appointed vicecaptain Suryakumar Yadav who is in contention to be named as the ICCrsquos Menrsquos T20I Player of the Year to shore up the battingIshan Kishan has been picked and named as the wicketkeeper who can open while Sanju Samson too is in the mix in the middle of the packThere are Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar in the squad to don the allroundersrsquo hats bowling off spin along with leftarm spinner Axar PatelCompetent bowling lineupWith Pandya there to bowl his medium pace stuff as and when needed the bowling department looks competent in Indian conditions with Yuzvendra Chahal also in the mix as the lone wrist spinner Arshdeep Singh Umran Malik and Harshal Patel are the front runners for the medium pacersrsquo places while Shivam Mavi of Uttar Pradesh and Mukesh Kumar of Bengal have been picked for the first time in the squadAs far as Sri Lanka are concerned they too have quite a bit to prove after their nonetooimpressive show in the T20 World Cup while going into the mega event as the new Asia Cup championsAlso readIN PHOTOS Indian cricket team begin practice sessionIn fact Sri Lankamdashled by allrounder Dasun Shanakamdashhad stopped Indiarsquos progress into the final of the UAE event last September which gives extra edge to the match as Pandya and Co will be seeking to avenge that lossldquoNo wersquore not looking to settle anything We want to play good cricket Yes we will make them feel like wersquore in India donrsquot worry about that I assure and promise you they will feel that theyrsquore playing an international team and that too India in India We donrsquot need to go and sledge them our body language is enough for them to feel a little intimidated which we will do I promise yourdquo said Pandya when asked about the revenge angle on the eve of the matchlsquoWe need to step uprsquoldquoWe did not have a good T20 World Cup We need to step up We are looking forward to doing well in this series India are one of the better sides What we need to do is to play good cricket Itrsquos always tough to beat India in India but we have a good teamrdquo said Shanaka India hold a commanding 17 wins against eight losses record in 26 meetings with the Emerald Islanders in the T20 format over the years