Dasun Shanaka pushes his squad to play ‘competitive cricket’ in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. “It’s a big competition for all Sri Lankans since the World Cup will be in India,” Shanaka remarked.
Following a 2-1 loss in the T20Is, the Sri Lankan side will play India in a three-match ODI series beginning on January 10 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. During the pre-match news conference, skipper Dasun Shanaka emphasized the difficulties of playing India in their own home and stated that Sri Lanka must play competitive cricket.
After losing the first T20I by two runs, Sri Lanka responded with a 16-run victory in the second game. However, in the third and crucial game. The visiting team bowl out for 137 runs while chasing a 229-run goal. Shanaka noted that only South Africa has recently triumphed in India, and Sri Lanka has to be more competitive when confronting a behemoth like India.
“None of the teams in the history save for South Africa have triumphed in India. In Mumbai, we also put up a solid fight. But they come back stronger than ever, and we need to play competitive cricket. “This is a crucial competition for all Sri Lankans since the World Cup will be held here in India. Therefore we’re looking forward to this series,” Shanaka stated during the pre-match press conference on January 9.
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It’s critical to do well in India: Dasun Shanaka
Shanaka stated that with the One-Day World Cup 2023 slated in India, the forthcoming ODIs will be crucial for preparations. Sri Lanka is currently ranked ninth in the ICC ODI Team Rankings and fail to qualify for the big event. The Asian champions, on the other hand, will play in familiar surroundings, and Shanaka said that the players are fully aware of the significance of playing in India.
“It’s a really excellent preparation, the conditions would be comparable. The guys are prepare because they understand the significance of this competition. “I really wanted to do well before coming here, so I practiced extra; it’s really crucial to play well in India,” Shanaka continued.
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