India vs Sri Lanka-16

Dilhara Fernando makes a surprise return to the squad having not featured for Sri Lanka since 2012, while his last T20I appearance came in 2011.

Malinga is still recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the tour of New Zealand.

With Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara and Nuwan Pradeep sideline with injury, the veteran has been brought in to lend some experience to the bowling attack. Herath is recovering from a pulled side muscle and Pradeep is out of action due to a hamstring injury.

An injury-hit Sri Lanka recalled veteran fast bowler Dilhara Fernando in the Dinesh Chandimal led national squad for the three-match T20 worldwide series against India, next month.

The three-match T20 series is starting on February 9 in Pune, followed by matches at Delhi and Visakhapatnam on February 12 and 14 respectively.

The selectors will pick the 30-man provisional squad for the World T20 by February 1 and it is expected that the 15-man squad for the mega-event in India will be the same as the one to be announced for the preceding Asia Cup. If he can put in a good shift in India, it is likely he will be called up for the Asia Cup and the World T20 soon after the series.

Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Seekuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Chameera Dushmantha, Dilhara Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando, Sachithra Senanayake and Jeffrey Vandersay.