The first match of the India vs Sri Lanka ODI series, in Cuttack, was a one-sided affair as India routed the visitors by 169 runs. Now the caravan moves to Ahmedabad, a venue known for producing run fests.
Speaking to the media ahead of the second ODI at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Tillakaratne Dilshan said the batting unit will have to take the initiative to put runs on board if they are to compete with the strong Indian lineup on what he deemed a batting beauty of a pitch.
“We have to get used to facing a 280-300-run target with the new rule of having not more than four fielders outside the circle,” Dilshan said. “Also, the wickets are flat here and India have a very strong batting lineup. If we bat first, we have to get at least those many runs.”
Dilshan admitted that he along with other two senior batsmen in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have to take the onus of Sri Lanka’s batting performance, but also hoped the younger batsmen would continue playing their part.
“We three have to take the responsibility of scoring most runs. Having said that, the other guys should also stand up and contribute with the runs,” he said.
Dilshan also put his hand up in accepting that the team needed a more significant contribution from the opening batsmen.
“When chasing a 350-plus total any team needs a good start, which we couldn’t manage in the last game,” he said, referring to the 31-run opening stand between him and Upul Tharanga. “The Indian pacers bowled really well with the new ball too.”
“We will have to change our approach a bit; maybe look to attack a bit more in the first 10 overs,” he added. “We didn’t take any risks in the last match and we will try to correct that tomorrow.”
What makes the batsmen’s performance all the more crucial for the visitors is the inexperience in their bowling attack, lacking the venom of Lasith Malinga and the guile of Rangana Herath. Dilshan said the young bowlers must take this opportunity to learn how to cope with such pressures.
“Malinga is a great bowler and has done really well for Sri Lanka in the last five-six years,” Dilshan said. “But his absence presents the youngsters with an opportunity. We saw that (Lahiru) Gamage bowled really well in the last match. The young bowers must learn from this experience.”
While he wants the youngsters in the side to use this series as a learning experience, Dilshan said there was also much for Sri Lanka to learn as a team from India when it came to strategizing.
India played the masterstroke of taking the batting powerplay as early as in the 23rd over in Cuttack. It worked like a charm as the confidence of the Lankan bowlers was destroyed and resulted in a massive score of 363.
Dilshan said it caught the Lankans by surprise. “We didn’t expect them to take the batting powerplay so early and we were taken by surprise. What worked for them was the batsmen made total use of it and their partnership flourished in those five overs,” Dilshan noted.
“I think it was a very good move from India as both batsmen were well settled and could capitalize on the start. It is something we can learn from them in the coming games.”
