The Charith Asalanka-led Sri Lanka Nationwide Cricket Workforce locked horns with the Suryakumar Yadav-led India Nationwide Cricket Workforce within the first T20I of the three-match collection on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Saturday, July 27.
This was the primary match for Sri Lanka after Charith Asalanka was appointed as the brand new T20I skipper of the aspect. This occurred after the champion all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down from his function after the poor marketing campaign of the Lankan Lions beneath his management within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024. Sri Lanka misplaced to South Africa and Bangladesh within the first spherical of the T20 World Cup, which led to them dealing with a group-stage exit.
Wanindu Hasaranga, identical to his predecessors, was not the captain of the T20I group for very lengthy as he led the aspect in simply 10 matches. In these matches, he led the aspect to victories in 6 matches and he misplaced 4 matches as captain.
In the meantime, Charith Asalanka was handed the captaincy accountability as a result of he has turned out to be the disaster man of Workforce Sri Lanka. Regardless of his group going via a troublesome section in the previous few years each on and off the sphere, Asalanka has grown right into a constant performer. Since his debut in 2021, Charith Asalanka’s shares have largely been on the rise, and he has develop into a dependable batter of the group. Additionally, he has been the chief of the group on the U19 degree and has captained the senior group in just a few matches as effectively.
Sri Lanka even have a brand new head coach in Sanath Jayasuriya in an interim capability as his tenure ends in mid-September. He was appointed for the job after Chris Silverwood resigned from the function on the finish of June, after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024.
We weren’t up to speed within the powerplay – Charith Asalanka
Speaking concerning the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka, the hosts received the toss and selected to bowl first. After being decimated within the first 10 overs, the bowlers made a robust comeback to limit the opposition to 213/7. Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the highest wicket-taker within the innings as he bagged a 4-wicket haul.
When it got here to run-chase, Sri Lanka had been off to a flyer, because of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Nonetheless, as soon as they bought out issues went downhill for hosts. They went from 140/1 to 170/10, dropping the match by 43 runs.
Talking after the match, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka expressed his disappointment over the efficiency of the bowlers within the powerplay overs, however was glad with the way in which they bounced again within the second half of the innings.
“We weren’t up to speed within the powerplay, however within the latter half, we got here again fairly robust. Some stage, we thought they may get to 240, we did effectively.”
Charith Asalanka, whereas speaking concerning the batting aspect of issues, said that he was sad with the way in which the Sri Lankan center order batted and that they might’ve executed a greater job. Charith Asalanka not directly slammed Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka in addition to Wanindu Hasaranga and stated:
“Little dissatisfied with the way in which the middle-order batted, we may have executed higher. (On the stability of his aspect) It is an experiment, that is the way in which we must always go sooner or later.”
