Image Source- AFP
Semi-finalists in 2003, finalists in 2007, and
champions in 1996 – Sri Lanka had a terrific run of 15 World Cup appearances,
but are their prime years behind them? They lost in the first round
(quarterfinal) in 2015, and they lost in the semifinals in 2019. In 2023, they
are anticipated to be a middling side once more.
Yes, there was that disastrous collapse in the Asia
Cup final, but to get there, they had played some respectable cricket,
defeating Pakistan in a nail-biter and Bangladesh twice.
Their recent victories are mostly based on their
offensive. The middle and death over bowling of Matheesha Pathirana has been a
crucial new addition to the team.
India is the only team to have defeated them in their
past 15 ODI matches, but this feat is not as stunning as it may seem. Sri Lanka
had to compete in the qualifier to qualify for this World Cup, and many of its
recent opponents have been inferior teams that did not advance.
Coming into the World Cup, captain Dasun Shanaka had
probably the worst run of form with the bat of any player. He has a strike rate
of 57.39 and an average of 6.60 since the Qualifier began. This is part of his
job as a finisher in the lower middle order. Sri Lanka urgently needs Shanaka
to start playing huge innings now that Wanindu Hasaranga is out of the
competition due to injury, even as he still makes contributions with the ball,
in order to give their XI some semblance of balance.
No other player has scored as many runs at No. 5 since
2021 as Charith Asalanka, a feat made all the more remarkable given that the
now 26-year-old barely made his debut midway through that year. Asalanka’s
World Cup performance will significantly contribute to Sri Lanka scoring
respectable totals because of his early innings ability to hit boundaries
(particularly through the leg side), skill at spotting gaps, and cool
demeanour. His offbreaks can also come in helpful on the drier tracks.