It has been a disastrous few months for the Sri Lankan national team and a series loss to India in the ODI series with still two matches to go is just a testimony of their performances from the past two months. The Men in Blue has cashed in on the opportunities and haven’t allowed the hosts to remain ahead of the game. Despite putting India under pressure in the previous two matches, they failed to consolidate their impressive position and surrendered both the matches in the end.
They have also been pegged by injury issues and after their regular captain Upul Tharanga was suspended for two matches, their stand-in-skipper for the 3rd match Chamara Kapugedera has also been ruled out of the 4th match and speedster Lasith Malinga has been named skipper for the 4th ODI. So with the match a few hours away, let us have a look at Sri Lanka’s Predicted XI:
Niroshan Dickwella
The left-handed opener has been one of few bright spots for the hosts and has got his team off to decent start on many occasions. He has the ability to smash the boundaries on a consistent basis and rotate the strike when required. Though he is technically not a pretty sound player he knows his limitations and backs his strengths to give him the results. He is also an able wicket-keeper behind the stumps.
Dilshan Munaweera
Munaweera might be given his first ODI cap in the 4th match and might come out to open the innings with Dickwella. Though he hasn’t tasted much of a success at the international level he remains an exciting prospect. He earned a call up to the national team for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2012 after finishing as the leading run scorer in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL)
Kusal Mendis
The youngster Kusal Mendis has been a find for the national team but the solid batsman hasn’t been able to perform on a consistent basis which hasn’t helped the national team. Mendis is a talented batsman and proved his mettle during the Test series with a brilliant hundred but hasn’t been able to replicate it in the shorter version of the game. He will surely look to get among the runs in the penultimate ODI.
Lahiru Thirimanne
The southpaw who made a comeback in the previous match will occupy the 4th slot especially after a fluent innings in the previous match. As wickets kept tumbling, Thirimane held the fort and made his way to a well constructed 80. His innings was laced with 5 fours and a solitary maximum. He looked in pretty good touch before being removed by Jasprit Bumrah.
Angelo Mathews
The former captain hasn’t been in the best of forms either the bat or the ball and he needs to perform in order to help Sri Lanka get back into shape. He is a man for a crisis and he needs to deliver when the team needs it badly. He has lacked penetration with the ball in hand and has been down on pace significantly.
Thisara Perera
The all-rounder is a force to reckon with but consistency has been his main problem in the international circuit. Despite possessing enormous big hitting qualities Perera hasn’t been consistent enough with either the ball or the bat but given Sri Lanka’s form of late, an experienced campaigner like Perera might turn out to be decisive for the hosts.
Milinda Siriwardana
The southpaw has the ability to hit the big shots to good effect and can also chip with a few overs in the middle. He is a useful bowler and has already shown in the series what he is capable of. He is also a clean hitter of the ball and can clear the ropes on a consistent basis. He has to perform consistently enough to cement his place in the team.
Lasith Malinga (c)
Slinga Malinga will lead the side in the absence of Tharanga and Kapugedera. He has been a standout bowler for the hosts over the years and his ability to bowl immaculate slower balls and Yorkers have made him one of the most deadly fast bowlers in world cricket in the recent past. He also remains the only bowler to take 4 wickets in 4 balls. He achieved the feat during the 2007 World Cup against South Africa.
Akila Dananjaya
The mystery spinner has been a sensation for Sri Lanka in an otherwise gloomy series so far. Dananjaya spun the web around the Indian batsmen in the 2nd and from a comfortable position of 109/0, the spinner reduced the visitors to 131/7. It was a brilliant piece of spin bowling and it was the wrong uns which was bamboozling the Indian batsmen on a consistent basis. Despite his exceptional figures of 6/54, Sri Lanka eventually lost the match. Akila also bagged a couple of wickets in the previous match as the Indians played him with a little more caution.
Lakshan Sandakan
The Sri Lankan pitches have been helpful to wrist spinners which might just tempt the Sri Lankan management to go with Lakshan Sandakan for the 4th match. The left-arm chinaman bowler hasn’t been a permanent fixture of the national team but has the talent to make it big in the international level.
Dusmantha Chameera ‘
Despite leaking runs, Chameera has been an exciting customer and has troubled the Indian batsmen on occasions with his steep pace and bounce. He needs to bowl in the right areas more often than not and if he can complement his pace and bounce with a good line and length, Chameera might well turn out to be a future great of Sri Lanka.