League: Cricket
In a compelling statement, former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has urged the Islanders to seize the moment as India undergoes significant changes in their T20 squad.
With key players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have retired from T20I cricket and Gautam Gambhir stepping in as the new head coach, India are in a period of transition. Jayasuriya, also serving as an interim coach for Sri Lanka, has emphasised the potential benefits of these changes.
“Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have been monumental figures in world cricket. Their talent and the cricketing prowess they’ve showcased over the years are well acknowledged. Their absence from the T20I setup presents a unique opportunity for us,” said Jayasuriya during a press meet.
Notably, the Indian team is preparing to face Sri Lanka in a T20 series under the new leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, who has been appointed as the captain for this series. Jayasuriya highlighted the strategic advantage this presents.
“With these experienced players no longer in the Indian lineup, there is a significant gap that we can exploit. The Indian team is in a rebuilding phase with new players who are still adjusting to the demands of international cricket,” he added.
Jayasuriya advised the Sri Lankan squad to fully leverage this period of change for India and said, “The absence of Sharma, Kohli, and Jadeja is a considerable loss for the Indian team. We must take full advantage of this situation to gain the upper hand in the series.”