Are we running scared of India?

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is caught behind off Mohammed Shami for 27 in the second innings of the first Test at Mohali 

• Mendis, Chameera to make the cut for second Test
• We have to execute everything to perfection when playing India, otherwise they will pounce on us, says Dimuth

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Are the Sri Lankan cricketers running scared of the Indians? Or so it seems.

“I don’t know whether our players are scared of the Indian bowlers, they give the impression that when they go out to bat they are already resigned to defeat,” said Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne following his team’s innings and 222 runs defeat inside three days in the first cricket Test played at Mohali.

“When we come to India our entire team is in a panic, I don’t know why. I have never seen such panic when we play against Australia, but India? The bowlers are extremely scared to bowl to the Indian batsmen. Maybe because they are on the attack all the time.”

Karunaratne said the bowling and batting was not up to the mark and that led to their defeat. Sri Lanka was dismissed for dismal totals of 174 and 178 after India had piled up 574-8 declared.  

“We bowled well up to tea on the first day, but after Rishab’s (Pant) innings, our bowlers lost their lines and lengths. Once the ball got old and our bowlers got tired, our lines and lengths went awry. On top of that Lahiru Kumara got injured and there was extra workload on the fast bowlers. I don't know whether it was because of that. We gave plenty of loose balls and if you hit into the gap it’s a four. The bowlers had no control over the ball.”

Kumara has a Grade ‘A’ hamstring injury and he has been ruled out of the rest of the series. He suffered the same injury earlier in South Africa and in Bangladesh.

Karunaratne described the batting performance as “poor”. “We gifted a lot of our wickets. They bowled well in good areas where we were playing against tight bowling. All the calculated risks we took were very high. When we lose 4-5 wickets the rest is given away as a bonus.”

The pitch Karunaratne said was of uneven bounce to pace where some balls kept low. “We expected that there were cracks in the middle. There was no difficulty in playing on that surface. I didn’t have any difficulty playing Ashwin. We have played on worse wickets than this in Galle.”

When it was pointed out that there seems to be a big gap between the two teams, Karunaratne’s response was: “The Indians know their roles when you take the batting unit they know how to build an innings. Only Rohith (Sharma) and Rishab are attacking players, the others are batsmen who spend time at the wicket to ensure India get a big total. They don’t throw away their wickets.”

Sri Lanka are likely to include top order batsman Kusal Mendis and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera for the second Test which is a pink ball game starting on 12 March at Bengaluru (Bangalore).

Karunaratne regretted not having the services of spin all-rounders Ramesh Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga whom he said could play similar roles like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravinda Jadeja. “I can play Ramesh and Wanindu as the third spinner with (Lasith) Embuldeniya as the main spinner. I can get batting from Ramesh and Wanindu. When Ashwin and Jadeja play, the Indian side is finely balanced.”

Mendis is recovering from a fractured hand and Hasaranga from being tested positive for COVID-19.

With the first Test ending two days ahead of schedule, the Lankan team had a work out in the gym on Monday and underwent training yesterday. They fly to Bengaluru today.

Asked what Sri Lanka should do to lift their game for the second Test, Karunaratne said: “The batting unit must try to convert and produce a big innings. I got two starts but was unable to convert, Angelo (Mathews), Pathum (Nissanka), (Niroshan) Dickwella, Dhananjaya (de Silva) all got starts. If one of them plays a big innings the others can bat around him. We must plan how to get to 350 plus.”

On the bowling front, Karunaratne said: “The Indian fast bowlers used a lot of reverse swing but our bowlers didn’t. I don’t know whether they lack that skill. But having said that they have bowled reverse swing in Test matches. We have to work our lines and lengths because any margin of error means you get hit. We have to execute everything to perfection when playing India, otherwise they will pounce on you. Our batsmen sometimes leave balls but not the Indians; they are on the offensive all the time.”