Big runs overdue from batsmen except Dhawan as India take on SL today; Thisara Perera to lead hosts since Chandimal is suspended for two games
India skipper Rohit Sharma has a laugh during practice ahead of the T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday. Pic/AFP
Sri Lanka were plunged into a minor crisis yesterday evening when the International Cricket Council suspended their captain, Dinesh Chandimal, for two matches in the Nidahas Trophy after the team failed to maintain an acceptable over rate in their first two matches.
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As soon as the decision came through, it was assumed that the designated vice-captain, Suranga Lakmal, would step up. The seam bowler has not been in the playing XI for the first two matches despite being appointed to high office and when the time came, Sri Lanka Cricket looked another way.
Dinesh Chandimal
Slow over-rate v B'desh
"Thisara Perera has been appointed to captain the Sri Lanka team in the next two games in the ongoing Nidahas Trophy, following the ICC's decision to suspend captain Dinesh Chandimal for two games for an over-rate offence," the Sri Lankan board said in a terse release. Thisara, the all-rounder, was appointed captain leaving Lakmal in his place and most likely on the sidelines as Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera do their work with the new ball. While all this excitement was happening with the home team, India were chilling out.
Thisara Perera
Having come off two days of complete rest, India hit the nets at the R Premadasa Stadium first thing in the morning yesterday. Having lost a tight game against Sri Lanka and won easily against Bangladesh, India will not be overly worried. The fact that Bangladesh stunned Sri Lanka to chase down 215 only makes India's position stronger.
They have won one game in the tournament despite the fact that no batsman other than Shikhar Dhawan has really fired and this will give them hope. It's only a matter of time before one of the other big guns fire, and what better time to do that than against Sri Lanka?
Will Rohit blast away?
Rohit Sharma is due runs, and those that come after Rohit and Dhawan also owe the team plenty. Suresh Raina needs to show that he still has what it takes while the striplings that follow need to make a case for themselves. The bowlers have laid down markers, and now it's left to the batsmen to show that they too belong.
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