Things are not in well shape for Sri Lanka. With total whitewash in both the test and ODI series, things have taken the worst turn for the Lankans. Now they also have to wait for Indies to lose a match against England to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. Upul Tharanga who suffered a ban due to slow over rate came back to captain the side on the last ODI but failed yet again as India with a clinical performance took the series by 5-0.
He admitted that lack of team work and consistency has made them suffer so much. Here are some excerpts from the post series conference:
On the difference between India and Sri Lanka Performance:
We lacked consistency. We didn’t bat well. We didn’t bowl well and we didn’t field well. We were outplayed in the series. Disappointed with batting. India was very consistent. We failed to get big scores. Indian top order was making plenty of runs.
On Where is the team going wrong:
We committed too many mistakes. As a batting unit, we failed to post decent totals. Even after five games, we failed to post 250 runs even once. Feeling very disappointed with that. These batting displays are worrying. Even today we could have made about 270 or 275. We were well placed, but like in the last few games, we collapsed. We lost some seven wickets for 53 runs. That has been something that is happening frequently now. We commit too many mistakes and we need to rectify them soon. We have a month’s break before the next ODI series and we need to rectify the mistakes and move forward. In ODIs, even if you fail in one department it is very difficult to compete. We need to improve.
On failing of openers:
Dickwella and Danushka are attacking batsmen. We have given them the freedom to use the Powerplay. But we have told them that if you get a start, you need to go on. When you are batting in the Powerplay you score about 30 or 40 runs and you should go on. We failed to achieve that even after five games. Not a single century in the whole series and that has been a letdown for us.
On giving up captaincy:
No reason for that. Next selectors will decide how we will move forward. We didn’t play well. Last two years we have not played well. Only these set of players can come out of it. We need to plan better. We need to identify what are the areas we can improve on.
On Indian attack:
Throughout the series, our batsmen failed after getting starts. Batting we have to be concentrating more on making big ones. Bhuneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bowled really well. They are very good white ball bowlers. They have played a lot of IPL matches. They are playing with the world’s best players. They have improved because of that. Slow balls and yorkers, their bowlers were very crafty.
On Suspension:
Not only the bowlers, the entire team is responsible. Bowlers need to quicken things up and the fielders need to back them up. Bowlers take some time and fielders take time. Not only the captain but even the entire team should come under the spotlight.
