Sri Lanka look for changes to avoid series whitewash

• Chamindu Wickramasinghe in line for T20I debut

Following two back-to-back middle order batting collapses which has resulted in handing India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, Sri Lanka are still grappling with the task of resolving their batting problems as they go into the third and final game at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today. 

“As batsmen, they must take more responsibility. We can coach them as much as we like and talk to them and provide them with the information, but once they go to the middle, they must use their intelligence a bit more and play,” said Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilina Kandamby.

“This is not the first time it has happened. It happened yesterday (Sunday) also and during the series in Bangladesh and in the T20 World Cup. We spoke to them and asked for solutions, and we are working according to an agreed plan, but we are not getting the right result. I think we will have to make some drastic decisions.”

“At the beginning of the year we had this problem of losing at least three wickets within the powerplay. When we had rectified that through Pathum (Nissanka) and Kusal Mendis we are now facing this middle order problem. I think more than their capabilities as batsmen they have an issue of thinking out in the middle and what decisions they take,” Kandamby continued.

“We have given them enough opportunities. We have a lot of youngsters in our squad, sometimes we will have to bring them in. We will have to make some hard decisions. We cannot let this circus go on for long.”

In the first two matches Sri Lanka’s had some excellent starts only to throw it away with a middle order collapse. In the first T20I from 140-1 they lost nine wickets for 30 and in the second T20I, from 130-2 they lost seven for 31.

“The obvious thing to say is that we don’t have enough power, but that’s not true. If you look at our stats this year, we’re neck-and-neck with other teams for six-hitting. If you hit it out of the stadium or just clear the boundary, it’s still a six. More than skills, I think handling situations and sticking around in tough situations have been the problem,” said Kandamby.

Dasun Shanaka with two ducks behind him is definitely in line to get the chop and his place is most likely to go to uncapped 21-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe who had a good Lanka Premier League with Dambulla Sixers and was named Emerging Player of LPL 2024.

Sri Lanka are also thinking of strengthening the batting by bringing in Avishka Fernando at number four and pushing Kamindu Mendis down to six which means there is no room for Ramesh Mendis. Sri Lanka will then have to go with four specialist bowlers (2 seamers, 2 spinners) with Wickramasinghe and Kamindu Mendis having to make up for the fifth bowler. It is a gamble Sri Lanka may or may not take with so much at stake.– (ST)