Two inexperienced captains, who’ll come out on top?

Sri Lanka’s interim Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya (right) in conversation with Sri Lanka Captain Charith Asalanka Captains Charith Asalanka (left) and Suryakumar Yadav pose with T20I series trophy

• Sri Lanka vs India T20I series commences at Pallekele today

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The three-match T20I series between Sri Lanka and India commencing at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium at 7 p.m. today sees two rival captains with a combined experience of having led their teams in only 9 T20Is taking the field.

Suryakumar Yadav who has taken over the reins from Rohit Sharma after the 2024 T20 World Cup has captained India seven times and has a 5-2 win-loss ratio, while his vis-à-vis Charith Asalanka has led Sri Lanka twice against Bangladesh and has a 1-1 record.  

While India went onto win the World Cup for Sri Lanka it was a disastrous outing failing to go beyond the group stage. Although sans their experienced campaigners who helped them with the world title like Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja who have all retired from the format, nevertheless India still possess quite a strong combination to beat Sri Lanka.

“Nothing changes, the brand of cricket remains the same,” said Suryakumar popularly known as Sky at yesterday’s pre-match media conference. “What I’ve been doing for the team doesn’t change. Captaincy has given me an added responsibility. It’s good because now I can walk the talk.”

Suryakumar said that playing under the leadership of Rohit Sharma for the last six years he has learnt a lot.

“In my own style I intend to take the ship forward. I know I have been playing this format for the last 3-4 years so l know how to take things ahead. Being the leader I can tell the team how to go about in this format. It won’t be a different thing but it will be good with a lot of players in the dressing room with good characters around. It’s a good challenge.”

Asalanka said that he doesn’t want to make too many changes but give the players the freedom to play in a free environment and get 100 percent out of them.

“I have been captain from the age of under 15 and a lot of changes have taken place. You learn every day. My team members also say you cannot stay in one place all the time but learn day by day. That’s how you become a good captain,” said Asalanka.

“I have played under several captains and learnt from them. I want to give the players the freedom to go and execute whatever plans we have for them without fear and a free mindset.”

Even before a single ball is bowled Sri Lanka already has two casualties with fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara ruled out of the series.

“I am extremely sad that two of my key bowlers are not available but these things can happen in sport,” said Asalanka. “It is something that we cannot control. I must be prepared to face the challenges that come my way. I think playing the LPL is a big advantage because we know the players who are in form. Through that we have got two good replacements. I hope to get the best out of them.”

Chameera was replaced by Asitha Fernando and Thushara by Dilshan Madushanka. 

“It’s a challenging series for us but we had great preparations. The LPL helped some of the players to regain their form and also find new talent. I want to get the best out of them.”

Sri Lanka players had the advantage of playing at Pallekele during the LPL series and will somewhat have an idea of how the wickets behave under lights. 

With four opening batters in the squad – Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal, Asalanka said that there will be places only for three and added that Kamindu Mendis would occupy the number 4 spot “the way he performed in the LPL”. With Nissanka and Mendis being the regular openers it will be a toss-up between Perera and Chandimal for the number three spot.

India will be mindful that Sri Lanka won the last T20I series played here on their last tour in 2021. However India has beaten them on the last two occasions in India 3-0 in 2022 and 2-1 in 2023.