Even on a batting belter in Nagpur, Sri Lanka's batsmen struggled
Having suffered their worst-ever defeat in Test cricket earlier this week in Nagpur, Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal is hopeful that his team will bounce back in the third and final Test against India in Delhi that starts on Saturday. Sri Lanka suffered a heavy innings and 239-run defeat in the second Test inside four days and need to raise the game to avoid a 2-0 series defeat.
"The Nagpur game was really disappointing. It was a painful defeat. In life too you have ups and downs. The important thing when you lose and down is to come out of it and compete. When I was captain in 2014 also I learned a lot. It's no doubt a tough few days for the team, but I have a feeling that we can change things, bounce back and move forward," Chandimal told journalists.
Sri Lanka are likely to do a couple of changes. Top order batsman and vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne is set to miss out after a series of soft dismissals while Sri Lanka need a replacement for veteran spinner Rangana Herath, who returned home with back pain.
"Rangana is a big loss for us. He is always an asset but unfortunately, he is not available to play this game. We have Lakshan Sandakan and Jeffrey Vandersay in the squad and we will make a call soon. We will do a few changes," Chandimal said.
Sandakan is expected to play in place of Herath while Dhananjaya de Silva is expected to come in for Thirimanne.
Sri Lanka's batting has been a huge concern throughout the series. Left to survive one and a half sessions in Kolkata, the tourists nearly blew it when they lost seven wickets for 75 runs before bad light intervened. Then in Nagpur, they were shot out for totals of 205 and 166.
"Batting has been the big problem for us. We talk a lot about it at meetings, but the problem is that we are not executing them well. We don't play to the situations and assess the conditions well," Chandimal explained.
"That's a problem that we have been having over the last 18 months. The top five batsmen have to play big innings. I hope the guys will have different plans for tomorrow's game and they will do their best," Chandimal added.
The form of leading batsman Angelo Mathews, in particular, has been worrying. The former captain has managed just two half-centuries the whole of this year after 16 innings.
"Angelo is the senior batsman we have got in our batting line up. Not only him, even the other seniors and even the younger players have to take the responsibility when they are out in the middle. It's not only about Angelo. Everyone has to stand up and deliver." By sahabuddin