‘Rohit, Virat and Jadeja Are Not in the Team, We Should Take Maximum Advantage’: Sri Lanka Head Coach – News18
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirements from T20Is after the T20 World Cup
Jayasuriya stressed that Sri Lanka should get the best advantage from the absence of three experienced players; Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja.
As Sri Lanka gets ready for the white-ball bilateral series against India, interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya looks to instil discipline within the dressing room.
Addressing a presser on Wednesday, Jayasuriya admitted instilling discipline in current players is important, especially to maintain cricket as ‘the gentlemen’s game’.
“We did basic disciplining. We are expecting discipline in general, and I am only an interim coach during my tenure. I want that discipline,” said Jayasuriya
“Our cricket-loving public love these cricketers, and they are watching them and there are young cricketers who are looking up to senior cricketers. They like to learn from them. If they do well it would help the younger generation of cricketers as well. It was on this backdrop we introduced these changes. We want to maintain cricket as the gentlemen’s game,” he added.
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Backing Jayasuriya’s attempt to discipline the young cricketers, the country’s Sports Minister Harin Fernando, earlier stressed the need for modesty and discipline among cricketers representing the country and argued that humble behaviour could mitigate most of the criticism cricketers face after match losses.
“If the team had been humbler and their attitudes had shifted, the people of Sri Lanka would not have been so critical of match losses. People have a deep love for cricket” the Sports Minister had said.
Jayasuriya also stressed that Sri Lanka should get the best advantage from the absence of three experienced players; Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who announced their retirement from the shorter format after the T20 World Cup last month.
“They are not in the team, which is a loss to the Indian team, and we should take maximum advantage of it,’’ he said.
“Rohit, Virat and Jadeja are the best players in the world. With their talent, the cricket they played, we all know where they stand,” Jayasuriya added.
The three T20Is will be played on July 27, 28 and 30 at Pallekele International Stadium followed by three ODIs, starting from August 2 in Colombo.
