Sri Lanka begin “important” tour today in World Cup year

In a year when India hosts the Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka have been presented with valuable preparation for the showpiece event in the form of a limited over series against the Indians – a fact captain Dasun Shanaka acknowledged ahead of the first T20I in Mumbai today. 

Sri Lanka play three T20Is, before taking on the defeated semi-finalist of the 2019 World Cup in three ODIs. 
“The T20 and ODI series are very important because most of the guys in the side have not played in India,” Shanaka said. 

“Definitely, this will give us exposure in a lot of grounds and conditions and playing against India will be good preparation for the World Cup.”

While the T20I series could be seen as less important on this tour, it provides Sri Lanka with a chance to put behind a difficult World Cup campaign, where injuries resulted in a depleted fast bowling attack, and off-the-field indiscretions overshadowed whatever promise was shown on the field and derailing the momentum gained after the Asia Cup win earlier in the year.  

“We didn’t have a good World Cup, so we would look to step up and do well in this series,” Shanaka said.
“Many of our superstars didn’t do well in Australia. But when it comes to Asia, we know the conditions and pitches well. It’s important to start well.”

“India is always a better side, what we need to do is to play good cricket against India. It’s always tough against India in India. But we have a good team, looking forward to a good series,” he added.

With regular skipper Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli rested for the T20I series, the leadership of the Indian team has been given to all-rounder Hardik Pandya who was one of his team’s bright spots during the T20I World Cup last year. 

“Going forward there is a lot to achieve. I have not achieved anything. There will be multiple World Cups in multiple years, so the goal always will be to win the World Cup.”

Shanaka’s Sri Lanka outplayed India in last year’s Asia Cup T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, but Pandya said the tourists would not have it easy in India.

“We are not looking to settle anything, it’s just that we want to play good cricket,” said Pandya.
“And yes, we will make them feel they are in India.”

(With agency inputs)