Sanath Jayasuriya, the interim head coach of Sri Lanka, has revealed that Zubin Bharucha, the high performance director of Rajasthan Royals, has assisted his batters in preparing for the upcoming Twenty20 series against India. Jayasuriya believes that his team can capitalize on the retirements of prominent Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Following India’s World Cup victory last month, Rohit, Kohli, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 International cricket. The Twenty20 series versus Sri Lanka will begin in Pallekele on July 27.
Despite the fact that a few Sri Lankan players compete in the Lanka Premier League, Jayasuriya disclosed that they have trained with Bharucha for six days. “We just started the sessions just after the LPL. Most of the players are playing the LPL, so they were busy with cricket and what we wanted (for them) was to play cricket as much as possible,” he said, as per PTI.
“We got Zubin from Rajasthan Royals and we had about six days of work and also with the other cricketers who finished with the LPL. I hope the players have learnt what you (management) wanted to do in terms of practice and their technique.”
The preparation was good, and we have two more days in Kandy before the T20 starts,” he added.
According to Jayasuriya, Bharucha’s sessions with the players were intensive, and they learned a lot from him. “It is important to learn as international cricketers new techniques, new approaches and shot making to be effective,” he said.
In the Twenty20 Internationals, India has Suryakumar Yadav as their new captain. Jayasuriya, despite acknowledging his team’s challenges, urged them to seize the opportunity. “Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are best players in the world. Looking at their talent and the kind of cricket they have played we all know where they belong, along with Jadeja,” Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by Associated Press during a press meet.
“Their absence will be loss to the Indian team and we have to take maximum advantage out of that,” he said.
Following the disaster in the T20 World Cup, heads were rolled in the Sri Lankan team’s upper management. Following Sri Lanka’s elimination from the preliminary round, Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of the squad, Chris Silverwood, the head coach, and Mahela Jayewardene, the high performance consultant, all tendered their resignations.
Regarding Sri Lanka’s current situation, Jayasuriya expressed his optimism that the players will be able to grow personally. “It is up to the players, we have been doing all the work in terms of practice, we have given training, we have got best coaches. I think Sri Lanka Cricket has provided most of the things and now it is up to the players,” he said.
“For the present cricketers to come to that level, we have been doing all the necessary work and I hope in next two years there will be a lot of development in these boys,” the batting great added.
“We need to give a little bit of time. I know, for the cricket-loving public it is frustrating sometimes but be patient, give us time, we are working on it. It is really hard work on it with the players and they will do well.”
While appreciating the angst of the supporters, the 1996 World Cup winner stated Sri Lanka has the quality in its ranks to emerge from difficult circumstances. “We have enough of talent. What we want (from them) is to go out in the middle and deliver — it is not easy, we know that,” he said.
“We have delivered when we were playing and now the time has come, people are waiting for this present team to perform and with what we are doing at the moment they will deliver very soon,” he added.
