Sri Lanka’s interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was delighted after a historic ODI series win against India. The hosts won the second ODI by a gargantuan margin of 110 runs to register a 2-0 series victory. With this win, Sri Lanka won an ODI series against India after a long gap of 27 years.
Sri Lanka had entered the series as underdogs with India adding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the ODI squad. It was a full-strength Indian squad barring the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka spinners were right on the money in the favorable conditions and got the job done for the home team.
Jayasuriya was part of the 1997 series, which Sri Lanka won by 3-0. The former Sri Lankan attacking opener had scored 210 runs in four matches at an average of 52.50.
“It was a very long wait because that series I played in 1997 and got a lot of runs in that series. That was the last series we won against India. After 27 years, I am part of the team and I am very happy to be part of these boys. They are a very nice bunch of players and are talented and the whole country would have seen what we can do.
“The boys went through a very, very hard time. Even during the T20 series we played well but the result was not what was expected. The players realized what went wrong when we came back to Colombo and they started to play well.”, he continued.
Meanwhile, Jayasuriya added they are working with players like Wellalage, Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, and Asalanka whereas Vandersay was able to grab his chance in the second ODI after Wanindu Hasaranga was injured by bagging a six-wicket haul.
“We have been working with players like Wellalage, Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Asalanka, all are very young players. Hasaranga got injured and Vandersay has been there for a long time but never got the opportunity and when we gave the opportunity, he grabbed it with both hands,” the coach said.
Sri Lanka will next tour England for three Test matches.
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