Cricketers aren’t the one well-known Sri Lankans in India in the intervening time. Shehan Karunatilaka, who received the celebrated Booker Prize simply three months in the past, was, actually, on this metropolis until a few days in the past.
Karunatilaka, whose debut novel Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew is rated by Wisden among the many best books on cricket, is now in Kozhikode for the Kerala Literature Pageant. On the inaugural ceremony of the pageant on the Kozhikode seaside, he spoke of how related the panorama and the individuals of Sri Lanka and Kerala appeared.
The Lankan cricketers, who’ve arrived right here for the ultimate ODI towards India, are more likely to really feel at residence in similar-seeming environs, as they attempt to cease the host from finishing a clear sweep within the three-match collection, having misplaced at Guwahati and Kolkata in quite convincing fashions.
If India batted the Lankans out of the primary ODI, the bowlers got here to the fore within the second, dismissing the guests inside 40 overs. With the host wanting in such intimidating type, Dasun Shanaka’s males must up their recreation significantly on the Greenfield Stadium on Sunday.
The Lankan captain has appeared good in good knick on this white-ball tour. He scored his second ODI hundred at Guwahati and earlier than that, had scores of 45, 56 not out and 23 within the T20Is.
23-year-old Nuwanidu Fernando, who made 50 on his debut earlier than being run out within the final match, has proven promise. However Sri Lanka’s top-order – particularly somebody like Kusal Mendis – has to bat deeper, towards a facet that options some distinctive batters, together with two who’re among the many recreation’s all-time greats within the format.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had placed on a scintillating show in the one ODI at this venue, towards the West Indies 4 years in the past. The followers could not thoughts an encore. They’d even be wanting ahead to the strokeplay from the likes of Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Ok.L. Rahul.
And let’s not overlook Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, who appears to be getting higher and higher with the bat. Not many would possibly envy Sri Lanka’s bowlers.
Indian bowling has proven its depth within the collection. The fiery Umran Malik and the skilful Mohammed Siraj have fired.
Within the final match, Kuldeep Yadav but once more made his likelihood depend, with a Man-of-the-Match efficiency. That meant Karunatilaka wasn’t the one one who reminded us about that uncommon species in cricket.
THE SQUADS
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis (vice-captain & wk), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara.
