Guwahati: Unseasonal rain delayed the start of India's first T20 international against Sri Lanka after home team skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to field first at Barsapara Cricket Stadium here.
The first of the three-match series marked the return of Shikhar Dhawan and Jasprit Bumrah after both were out nursing respective injuries.
Virat Kohli and Co., who enjoyed a brief break, are coming into this contest on the back of T20I series victories against Bangladesh and West Indies respectively, hence they would be brimming with confidence.
The series will hold much importance for pace spearhead Bumrah who will be making his return to international cricket. Bumrah has been out of action after India's tour of the West Indies in July-August due to a stress fracture on his back and thus would be rearing to go and perform for the team.
The 26-year-old has also been included in the ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia, which will take place after the T20Is against Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka, the series would be about breaking the shackles and make sure they present a tough competition to the hosts, against whom they have never been able to win a bilateral T20I series.
India and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 16 T20Is, out of which India have won 11 -- joint-most for them against all opponents faced in the shortest format.
Squads:
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera(w), Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Malinga(c)
