Sanath Jayasuriya, the head coach of Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of embracing criticism on Thursday. While his words were firm, they carried the weight of recent setbacks, blending both a candid confession and a call to action.
Following the clean sweep by India in the T20I series at Pallekele, Jayasuriya admitted that the fans had valid reasons for their dissatisfaction with the team’s recent performances. Nevertheless, he made a heartfelt appeal for support: “I see the players putting in an enormous amount of effort. I urge fans to come to the ground and back the team during the ODIs,” he stated.
The series was marked by close losses, with the middle order collapsing at crucial moments and failing to capitalize on the top order’s efforts. The most disheartening was the third T20I, where the hosts, needing just 28 runs off 29 balls with nine wickets in hand, ended up losing in a Super Over.
Jayasuriya acknowledged the disappointment: “The third game should never have gone to a Super Over. As coaches, we provide guidance, but handling pressure is up to the players. It’s disheartening that part-time bowlers like Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav took those critical wickets.”
He reflected on a crucial moment when Kusal Perera signaled for a right-hander, a move Jayasuriya agreed with, but the outcome was still not favorable. “I would have been happier had Kusal Perera finished it off,” he added.
The coach noted that the issue wasn’t about skill or effort but poor shot selection and handling pressure. “We’ve designed a system where top order batters train extensively. Kamindu Mendis faced over 600 balls, and Kusal Perera faced more than 700. The commitment is there, but managing pressure is crucial. Cricket awareness also needs improvement.”
Despite starting the games well, Jayasuriya observed that the team failed to convert good starts into wins. “In the last three games, we began well, which is positive. Even in the rain-affected second game, we could have added more runs. Our fielding has been good, except for the first game. We must focus on winning, as that is the ultimate goal.”
Jayasuriya admitted the disappointment of the current phase but stressed the importance of accepting criticism and responsibility. “As coaches and support staff, we must face criticism head-on. It’s part of the process, and we must continue to support and build confidence. Every cricketer goes through these phases.”
As Sri Lanka prepares to shift formats and locations, they face another challenge with injuries. Ahead of the first ODI, two uncapped fast bowlers, Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga, have been added to the squad to replace the injured Dilshan Madhushanka and Matheesha Pathirana. The list of injured fast bowlers now includes Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, and Binaru Fernando.
“It’s unfortunate,” Jayasuriya said. “Before the series even began, two bowlers got injured, and three more just before the T20s. It’s challenging when key fast bowlers are sidelined. We need replacements, and the Sri Lanka Cricket High Performance Centre must ensure they are available. For some players who haven’t been on the international stage, it’s a tough situation, but gaining experience with the squad will be valuable.”