Sri Lanka chose to bat in the first T20 in Pallekele – the start slightly delayed due to rain.
The hosts will field offspinner Akila Dananjaya, despite his action being currently under suspicion by the ICC. Making his T20 international debut, meanwhile, is legspinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Kasun Rajitha, Isuru Udana and captain Lasith Malinga make up the frontline pace options, with seam-bowling allrounder Dasun Shanaka also there for support.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be without fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who had fractured his thumb at training on the eve of the match, and is now in substantial doubt for the two remaining T20Is as well. Legspinner Todd Astle and top-order batsman Tom Bruce were also omitted. Seth Rance, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, captain Tim Southee and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner comprise the primary bowling options.
New Zealand have won each of the last three T20s between these sides.
Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Avishka Fernando, 4 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 5 Shehan Jayasuriya, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Lasith Malinga (capt.), 11 Kasun Rajitha
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Tim Seifert (wk), 4 Colin de Grandhomme, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Tim Southee (capt.), 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Seth Rance
Source: ESPN Crickinfo