Can Sri Lanka overcome scars of the Asia Cup final?

Dunith Wellalage and Dushan Hemantha

• Meet old adversary India in World Cup clash

The biggest challenge Sri Lanka face when they confront India in a Cricket World Cup league match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today is whether they are able to overcome the scars of that forgettable Asia Cup final and lift their game to give the hosts a good run for their money.

It was not so long ago that Sri Lanka found themselves in no man’s land when they were shot out for 50 and India won quite comfortably, hardly raising a sweat to lift the Asia Cup for a record eighth time. The entire match lasted just 21.3 overs.

The World Cup is a different stage where Sri Lanka can take comfort by the fact that of the nine times they have met India in this marquee event the scores are tied at 4 wins each with one match ending in a no-result. In the last two meetings, India has had the upper hand winning in 2011 and 2019.

The form they are currently in, India could consider themselves strong favourites to extend that run and make it three-in-a-row. India is the only unbeaten side in the ongoing Cricket World Cup and a win today will assure them of a semi-final berth. Sri Lanka will particularly remember 2011 because it was at this venue they lost to India in a World Cup final with Mahela Jayawardene, the present Sri Lankan team consultant scoring a splendid century, but was unfortunate to end on the losing side.

Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood thinks that the Asia Cup defeat will motivate the team to do well.

“I’d rather hope that the defeat in the Asia Cup would give more motivation to the boys to come out and obviously fight, show plenty of spirit and get stuck into the Indian side,” said Silverwood at the pre-match press conference yesterday. “They’re a very good side, we know that. We’ve seen them play some superb cricket in this tournament so far. But I think it’s a good opportunity for our boys to show what they’re made of as well. Hopefully, the defeat in the Asia Cup will give motivation to the boys.”

“Playing in the World Cup for your country against India is motivation in itself. The players they’re up for the fight. They’re enjoying the tournament. We’ve played some good cricket at times, so we’ll be looking to do that. We’ve prepped as well as we always do, so the boys are ready. It’s just a case of, we have to turn up and we have to bring our A game, because we know India is a very difficult team to beat.”

Following the defeat against Afghanistan, Silverwood said the team had addressed a lot of issues.

“All of us were very disappointed the other night after that result. That’s not to take anything away from Afghanistan. I thought they played superb cricket on the night and showed that they are a progressing team and that they’re very capable of beating anyone. But for us, again, we had a very good chat in the dressing room afterwards, addressing some of the issues that we felt we had. We’ve come here and we’re trying to put that right in practice now. We’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

According to Silverwood, Sri Lanka will be coming up against one of the best bowling attacks in the world and he sees that as an opportunity for his players to pit themselves against. 

“If you look at that bowling and you watch them operate, it’s a very strong bowling attack. Any team in the world would want an attack like that, to be honest. We see that as a great challenge for our guys. We see it as an opportunity to go out and play against the best. I mean pit ourselves against that. But there’s no hiding it is a very good bowling attack.”

If at all Sri Lanka makes a change it will be for the number six position occupied by Dhananjaya de Silva. De Silva has not performed up to expectations with bat nor ball and the possibility of including one of the younger spin all-rounders Dunith Wellalage or Dushan Hemantha cannot be ruled out. All three were closely watched at practice by the team’s coaching staff yesterday. Wellalage has already made his presence felt against India in the Asia Cup by picking up his maiden five-fer. If the change happens Angelo Mathews who batted at number seven against Afghanistan, will be promoted to number six, a position from which he can make a useful contribution to the team.