Dinesh Chandimal to lead depleted Sri Lanka squad against India

Sri Lanka’s T20 captain Lasith Malinga, all-rounder Angelo Mathews, pacer Nuwan Kulasekara and spinner Rangana Herath are on the absentees list with Sri Lanka giving them ample rest before the 2016 Asia Cup T20 and 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka are the defending champions of the T20 World Cup and would look to field a fresh side in their bid to retain the trophy in March.

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who last played for Sri Lanka in 2012, and leg-spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna made a comeback into the team. Kushal Perrera, who was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance, is another famous name in the list of absentees.

The island nation’s last T20 series was against New Zealand earlier this month, which the Lankan team lost 0-2. Sri Lanka will start the tour on February 9 with the first T20 in Pune.

Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Seekuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilhara Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeffrey Vandersay