After losing the T20I series to India 1-2, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka sets his sights on the three-match ODI series which is scheduled to kick off from Tuesday (January 10). It will be a perfect redemption for his team if they manage to bounce back and win the ODI series but they are wary of threat called Suryakumar Yadav, who hammered a magnificent century in the third T20I to leave the Islanders gasping.
Suryakumar clobbered a 51-balls 112 to help India post a gigantic total of 228 and gave Sri Lanka a mountain to climb. The imposing total was too much for Sri Lanka as they were bundled out for just 137 which cost them the series. Suryakumar smoked nine sixes and seven fours in his lightning knock.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Shanaka was asked how he plans to tame the 32-year-old explosive Indian batter.
"This is a familiar question for all the captains. Suryakumar is a 360-player with the form he's in. It's about bowling in the right areas and executing your plans well," Shanaka said ahead of the ODI opener in Guwahati.
Sri Lanka came close in the first T20I before losing by two runs, while in the second T20I in Pune they defeated India by 16 runs.
Shanaka also said that he counting on the positives from the recently-concluded T20 series against India and will put up a fight in the ODI outing.
"None of the teams in recent past except for South Africa have won in India. Even we gave a good fight in Mumbai. But they came stronger, we need to play competitive cricket," Shanaka said.
"It's an important tournament for all Sri Lankans because the World Cup is going to be held here in India, so looking forward to this series. It's a very good preparation, the conditions would be similar. The boys are ready for that, they know the importance of this tournament," he further added.
"Before coming here, I really wanted to do well, practised more, it's very important to play well in India. We have seen the deck and it appears to be a high scoring game," Shanaka concluded.
