Regaining the lost momentum in India

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If the Asia Cup in September in UAE were a dream, the World Cup in Australia in November was a dream that Sri Lankan fans would like to forget. The Asia Cup was a dream in the sense that after years of sloppy performances, the national cricket team peaked knocking off world’s number one ranked India and number two ranked Pakistan. What was even more special was that some young players were turning out to be the match winners.

All that good work was spoilt during the World Cup where Sri Lanka made some costly mistakes both on and off the field. But you learn from your mistakes and there’s no better place to challenge yourself than India.

These two weeks will take the national cricket team across India as they will be playing in centers like Bombay, Rajkot, Pune, Guwahati, Calcutta and Kerala. Often they say India is the kind of place where boys become men for the intensity and challenges are quite demanding. A limited over series will not be as challenging as a Test series, but nevertheless there will be important learning points.

Most of the players who were injured during the World Cup are back and there’s lot of excitement as Avishka Fernando makes a comeback. In recent years, there’s been no better batter who has been pleasing on the eye (with all due respect to Kusal Mendis) than him.

Sri Lanka have a settled top order and the fans will be hoping that the middle order fires as there lied the problem during the World Cup. The likes of Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were able to give the side solid starts, but the middle order wasn’t able to capitalize on those starts.

The fact that Charith Asalanka has shown consistency in recent months augurs well for the side moving forward and if the likes of Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka fire in the death overs than we are in for some exciting cricket. Dhananjaya de Silva proved to be an important cog in the wheel in Australia and his off-spin will come in handy in these conditions.

More than the batting it is Sri Lanka’s bowling that is exciting. Dilshan Madushanka’s quadriceps injury in Geelong was a bitter pill to swallow. After the Hambantota born fast bowler stunned Virat Kohli with a peach of a delivery during the Asia Cup much was expected of him in Australia.

A left-arm quick is a superb addition to any side. It’s even more exciting when that leftie is able to generate genuine pace. Importantly, many in cricket circles believe that Madushanka is going to be the next big thing in Sri Lankan cricket and all eyes will be on him during this series.

Kasun Rajitha has bowled so well in recent times and has emerged as the leader of the attack filling the big boots of Suranga Lakmal. There’s never been a doubt about Rajitha, another quick to emerge from the south. But he’s had to put up with a series of injuries and when fully fit, he can be quite a handful.

Rajitha has developed over the years and his spells nowadays are pretty accurate while the loose balls are few and rare. That’s something handy in T-20 cricket.

The addition of Sadeera Samarawickrama in the squad must be commended too. At the end of the series if you ask Chris Silverwood whether he had seen any player who works as hard as Sadeera on his game, the answer will be no. His work ethic was the reason that won him a spot in the side in 2017 but with Graeme Labrooy gone, the selection committees that followed didn’t give Sadeera his dues and a fair run.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is Sri Lanka’s biggest match winner given his control, variety and ability to bowl under pressure and this will be a big series for him as well.

India themselves are under fire after a poor World Cup campaign and the recent showing in their bilateral series. Sri Lankan teams in recent times have struggled to perform well in Indian conditions but this current team has nothing to lose and more importantly they know that they can beat a strong unit like India.

The team’s fielding was at a different level three months ago and that’s one main reason why they went onto win the Asia Cup. Fielding once again is going to be vital if they are going to challenge the hosts in this series.

Dasun Shanaka has been under some sort of pressure since the poor showing in Australia. But he needs to be given a lot of credit for helping the side to turn things around and the selectors need to back him to do the job.