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India faces Sri Lanka in their concluding league match of the 2019 ICC World Cup. The Sri Lankan side arrives with a drastically changed squad, including the surprising appointment of Dimuth Karunaratne as captain just before the tournament began. While their performance over the last two years has been lackluster, this new-look team is eager to turn a new leaf and secure better results. The big questions remain: how will they perform throughout the event, and what can we expect when they go head-to-head with India? Let's dive into the details.ICC World Cup 2019. The islanders are coming into this tournament with a completely revamped squad. Even their captain Dimuth Karunaratne was a surprise choice made by the selectors before this huge tournament. Their overall form in the last couple of years has been quite disappointing as well. However, with a fresh squad at their expense, Sri Lanka would be looking to start things afresh with hopes of better results. So, how are they going to fare in the tournament? What would be the outcome in their match against India? Let’s have a look.
Location: Headingley, Leeds | Date: July 6th | Time: 3:00 PM ISTVenue: Headingley, Leeds
Date: 6th July
Time: 3:00 PM IST
The Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan PradeepSquad: Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Avishka-Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep
Team Analysis: Sri Lanka is fielding a predominantly young side. While players like Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, and Isuru Udana have some experience under their belts, the team's success will rely heavily on the leadership and performance of veterans such as Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, and Thisara Perera. Much of the team's fate rests on Karunaratne's shoulders; however, he has already given fans reason to be optimistic after a strong 70-run performance against South Africa in a warm-up game. There is high hope that he can carry this momentum into the main tournament.Team overview: Sri Lanka is a very young team. Even though players like Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana and others have played a handful number of games, a lot will depend on how the experienced veterans like Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera perform. Karunaratne’s performance will be pivotal in determining their faith as well. So far, he has instilled hope in the Lankan fans by playing an impressive knock of 70-odd runs against South Africa in the warm-up game. Hence, they would be hopeful of similar performances from him in the main tournament as well.
At the top of the order, Kusal Perera is expected to open alongside the captain. Perera is a dynamic, aggressive hitter capable of shifting the momentum of a game in an instant, which should complement Karunaratne's more stable and steady approach. The crucial number three spot goes to the gifted Kusal Mendis. Despite having over 60 ODIs to his name, his average of under 30 suggests he hasn't yet reached his full potential. If he can find his rhythm and stay consistent, it would be a massive boost for Sri Lanka.
The middle order will be anchored by Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, and Dhananjaya de Silva. As the team's current strongest batsman, Mathews is expected to lead by example. Thirimanne provides technical stability and is the go-to player for stabilizing the innings during a crisis. Toward the end, De Silva and Thisara Perera (at number 7) will handle the aggressive hitting. Additionally, Perera will contribute with his medium-pace bowling, while De Silva may provide some support with his part-time off-spin.
The bowling attack is well-balanced, featuring Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep as potent options for the death overs. Suranga Lakmal is their primary weapon for swing conditions, provided they use him strategically. Isuru Udana brings valuable variations for the middle and final stages of the game, and his underrated batting ability means he could be moved up the order if the top flight sets a strong foundation. In the spin department, they rely solely on Jeffrey Vandersay; while talented, it's unclear if he can dominate against the world's best spinners. Ultimately, Sri Lanka possesses great individual talent, but their success hinges on their ability to function as a cohesive unit.
Key Threats to India: Angelo Mathews stands out as the primary danger. Historically, other Sri Lankan players haven't caused much trouble for the Indian side, but Mathews has consistently proven to be a resilient obstacle in India's path.Major threats to India: Angelo Mathews appears to be the only threat to India’s chances of victory in this match. None of the other players have been able to trouble the Indian unit much on previous occasions. Only Mathews is the one who has stood like a rock in India’s way on numerous occasions previously.
Final Verdict: India enters this match as the far superior team, both in terms of overall cohesion and individual skill sets. Given the gap in current form, an Indian victory seems almost inevitable.Predicted outcome: As a unit, India are much more superior to Sri Lanka. The individual skills of their players trump that of their Lankan counterparts as well. So, an Indian victory looks like the only possible outcome of this match.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey