Dasun Shanaka wants more consistency from the top-order in the upcoming series against India
Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanka said he expects more from their top-order while India and Sri Lanka will play the three-match T20 series in Lucknow, which is starting on Thursday.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka wants more unity from the top-order in the three-match T20 series against India, starting on Thursday. The 1-4 scoreline would suggest otherwise but Sri Lanka was competitive in the recent five-match series in Australia.
The touring also gave Sri Lanka a good idea of the conditions and combination into the World Cup down under later this year. However, Sri Lanka’s better order failed to live up to the beliefs in Australia.
“We want the top-order to fire. Whenever the top order is among the runs we have a better chance of winning.
“India has a strong bowling lineup and we are expecting our top-order to fire which will give our bowlers a chance to defend,”
said Shanka in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the series due to a Covid-19 infection he contracted in Australia.
The captain said the team will miss him but he expects the young players to get up to the incident.
“The youngsters have been in the system for a while, they have performed in domestic cricket. It has become normal with the COVID situation. All the teams are facing it. Wanindu will be a weakness for us but we know that he will be back soon. Still, our squad is strong enough.”
Shanaka has used only five bowlers of late but said he is ready to roll his arm over if the situation demands.
“Our five main bowlers have done well. Personally I would like to bowl but there was no opportunity for me to bowl. If any of the bowlers get hit I am ready to take the ball.”
The skipper said the away series will be a much tougher challenge even though India is out of the services of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and the injured Surya Kumar Yadav and Deepak Chahar.
“They have players with lots of IPL experience. Still, they would be very strong. But we have a good side as well,”
he added. PTI BS AH AH.