Things are going according to plan. For India. Not many people expected Sri Lanka to seriously challenge the power of the Indian side, but some did hold out hope that the Lions would put up a fight, and may even threaten an upset. Based on how the first two T20 games have gone, that has not been the case.
Sri Lanka have been outplayed in both T20s. There was a glimmer of a chance when the local side reached 140 for two with 5.5 overs still to go when chasing a challenging but not insurmountable target of 213. However, the familiar middle-order collapse that Sri Lankan fans are so used to following. And the rest is history. Now looking to the third and final T20 game, the local side has a lot to play for. Not only to save the whitewash but to give the team some confidence going into the ODI games.
Sri Lanka cannot take it easy
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Now that India has won the T20 series, it is likely that the team will ring in the changes. The trouble for Sri Lanka is that India features one of the strongest reserve players in the world. So the guys coming in are going to be as competitive as ever, and the local side cannot relax. For Captain Charith Asalanka, the task now is to motivate the side and to get them believing again. India is a powerful side, no doubt, but the Lankans must believe they can do it.
On the plus side, Sri Lanka has a very talented squad of players, that possess the skill to beat any side, but the challenge seems to be a mental one. When going up against powerful sides like India, the fear of not losing, rather than going out and giving it your all, seems to be a factor that is holding the Lankans back. This needs to change. And now that the series is lost, it might give the local side the freedom to play their natural game.
India will be looking for clean sweep
The modern Indian side is all about winning. It is less about player glory, stats, or stunning performances. The result is what matters. And given this approach, one can be certain that Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will be looking to make it 3-0. Having dominated the opposition with bat and ball, the Indians will be looking to replicate their past success once again.
For Sri Lanka, it is about performing to their maximum ability and not making unforced errors. The fear of India, which was certainly evident the last two times the teams met in ODIs, needs to pass. But for India, the aim would be to use this advantage and drive home the advantage. There is a definite skill gap between India and Sri Lanka, as far as men’s cricket is concerned. A divide that has only grown larger in recent years.
Lankan Players should take inspiration from the women’s game
The times are such that Sri Lanka’s cricketing fortunes have produced a winner elsewhere. In the women’s game. The recent success of the Sri Lanka women’s cricket side in the Asia Cup final is big news for the cricketing nation. The women’s side prevailing over the powerhouse India at home produced great jubilation. And if you watched the game, you could sense the passion and belief that the players had. Something the Sri Lankan men’s cricketers have lacked in recent years, especially against India. So it might be time for the Lankan men to take a few lessons from the ladies.
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