Nidahas Trophy In New faces with new roles take centre stage

​​ndia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh remind you of the joint families you might be a part of, too. Cricket Betting Tips For better academic and professional opportunities, you tend to move out of your hometown but keenly look to come back home at the minutest of chances. Cricket Free Tips It's time for such a get-together and the three teams will regroup in the beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka, this time to celebrate the hosts' 70th year of Independence by playing the Nidahas Trophy, that was last played to celebrate the country's 50th, in 1998.

Before the tournament kickstarts on March 6 in the country's capital, if there was a dinner to take place, don't be surprised if the Sri Lankan players dig into a plate of Poha, nor will the Indians mind a happy serving of Kiribath for breakfast, and the Bangladeshis will lap up the idea of having the Odiyal Kool - a Jaffna seafood delight. Such should be the familiarity with each other's culture that by now the players must know the most favourite hotspots to shop and eat in one another's country. Knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses on the field has long become muscle memory.

But this one might be slightly different. Often as is the case after long winding onerous tours, the big boys get rested and India after an arduous trek of South Africa, have done the same by allowing Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah some resting time. Cricket Betting Tips Free Sri Lanka and Bangladesh don't enjoy such privileges though, and instead, two of their most trusted artillery in Angelo Mathews and Shakib Al Hasan have been forced out due to injuries. Cbtf Cricket However, the common thread that would keep the players on the same page is the chance to reinforce or build upon on their respective positions. While winning a tournament remains the discernibly straightforward motive, the other aspect that will gain importance is what the tournament holds for a few individuals.

India:

Rahul, Raina, and the pecking order challenges

What an Ajinkya Rahane is to India's ODI outfit, KL Rahul is to the T20I unit - first-choice back-up opener. Ipl Betting Tips To jump onto the first available opportunity and perform, is second nature to Rahul as he did against Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series with scores of 61 and 89. For a seasoned campaigner like Suresh Raina, his comeback against South Africa was his first international appearance in 12 months' time, and that he returned a strike-rate of 150-plus with two valuable cameos of 31 and 43, shows how he can still slip seamlessly into India's limited-overs scene. Ipl 2018 Betting Tips Labelled a 'fearless cricketer' by coach Ravi Shastri, Raina, despite coming back after long never looked like playing for his own spot and this tournament provides him another shot at strengthening his portfolio.

Rewarded but can they repay?

Washington Sundar, Deepak Hooda, Mohammed Siraj, Vijay Shankar and Rishabh Pant, have all been rewarded with another chance at the highest level. Siraj and Pant have had their chances earlier but it is time for a fresh start. Pant's recent form in India's T20 domestic season, where he smashed four fifties and a hundred across the Zonal T20 League and the subsequent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has got him back in the reckoning. Free Ipl Cricket Tips His blistering 38-ball 116 against Himachal Pradesh underlines his big-hitting abilities further.

Hooda, Shankar and Sundar are more or less pitted in the same category and with no Pandya in the line-up, they too will look to line themselves up well in the order of preference. Online Cricket Betting Tips While Shankar and Hooda can give the ball a real tonk, Sundar brings in his miserly bowling attributes to round off his useful batting skills. Sundar though will have to compete against Axar Patel, the latter's chance though is seemingly nearer having travelled with the two wristies for some time now.

​Sri Lanka:

Weight falls back on Chandimal, again

In the wake of injuries that has seen Asela Gunaratne, Shehan Madushanka and Angelo Mathews miss out, the weight shifts on to the able shoulders of Dinesh Chandimal again. Cbtf Betting Tips Chandimal has time and again lifted himself and the team, more recently through ODI and T20I series wins in Bangladesh. Free Match Tips After enduring a torrid 2017, the hosts have just picked themselves off the floor and dusted their bodies. In such a time, it is crucial that Chandimal with other seasoned pros in the form of Upul Tharanga, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal - the vice-captain, and Nuwan Pradeep step up.

The Kusals - Mendis and Perera

The return of Kusal Perera after a sidestrain kept him out of the Bangladesh T20Is, augurs well for the hosts and his might at the top should help them get off to good starts on pitches that could keep slow. Kusal Mendis, who had replaced him in the squad for the previous assignment, will now double up with him, making for a bright prospect. Cricket Betting Tips Mendis's T20I form was nothing to write home about, however with the twin fifties now, he seems to have stumbled upon a formula that is here to stay. If the duo gets going, Sri Lanka might just be able to celebrate their independence well.

Bangladesh:

When behind-the-scenes drama comes to the fore

Khaled Mahmud, the team's technical director has changed his stance at least twice in the past ten-odd days and for now he is travelling as the team manager. Richard Halsall has made way for Courtney Walsh, who is now the head coach. Cricket Betting Tips Free If the support staff rejig wasn't making enough ripples, the board seemed to have tried their all to play Shakib Al Hasan who has been nursing a finger injury and coax Mashrafe Mortaza to come out of T20I retirement. Cricket Tips Free With both not happening now, it is best for Bangladesh to put all that behind them and look to recreate performances from their last tour of the Emerald Isle.

Selection puzzle

The inclusion of Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman has ruffled a few feathers in the Bangladesh cricket circles given their ineffectiveness in the shortest format of the game at the top level. Match Winner Betting Tips And in the absence of Shakib in the middle-order, Bangladesh wouldn't want that to snowball into a crisis during any time of the tournament.

A role Mahmudullah seems to relish

Mahmudullah has long been known for his bits and pieces contribution and there's no denying that a dash of consistency could see him assume greater responsibilities in the team. Cricket Betting Tips The fact that he will lead ahead of the likes of Tamim Iqbal is a signal strong enough that he is valued within the team. In both T20Is he led against Sri Lanka, he lifted his game with the bat making valuable contributions. Free Cricket Betting Tips  Although the team lost, the right-hander seemed to enjoy the additional pressure while going out to bat. He'd look to do the same again, but this time with better team results.