"We must be prepared to accept criticism," stated Sri Lanka's head coach Sanath Jayasuriya on Thursday. Though resolute, his voice carried the weight of recent disappointments as he made a candid admission and a heartfelt plea.
Following a series sweep against India in the T20Is at Pallekele, Jayasuriya recognised that fans had every right to be dissatisfied with the team's recent performances. Yet, he earnestly called for their support, noting, "I see the players putting in an enormous amount of effort. I appeal to the fans to come to the ground and support the team during the ODIs."
The recent series was marred by near victories slipping away, with the middle order collapsing at critical moments despite strong starts by the top order. The most disheartening was the third T20I, where, needing just 28 runs off 29 balls with nine wickets in hand, Sri Lanka forced a Super Over only to face defeat again.
"The third game should never have gone to a Super Over," Jayasuriya admitted. He highlighted that while coaches provide guidance, handling pressure is the players' responsibility. He acknowledged the crucial wickets taken by part-time bowlers Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav, expressing his disappointment.
"Kusal Perera signalled to send a right-hander in, which was the right call. We were prepared for the usual batting line-up, but when a set batter sends a message, you need to listen. I would have been happier had Kusal finished it off."
Jayasuriya asserted that the issue lies more in poor shot selection and handling pressure rather than skill or commitment. "We have a system where top order batters practise for hours during training," he said. "Kamindu Mendis faced over 600 balls, and Kusal Perera over 700. The commitment is there, but they need to handle pressure better and improve their cricket awareness."
Reflecting on the positives, he noted, "In the last three games, we started well. The top three-four batters performed, which is a positive sign. Even in the rain-affected second game, we started well and could have scored more. In the third game, we had a good start and bowled well. Apart from the first game, our fielding was strong. But there are no excuses; winning is the ultimate goal."
As Sri Lanka gears up to change their fortunes in a different city and format, injuries have struck again. Ahead of the first ODI, the squad included uncapped fast bowlers Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga, replacing the injured Dilshan Madhushanka and Matheesha Pathirana. The list of injured fast bowlers now includes six players, among them Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, and Binaru Fernando.
"It's unfortunate. Before this series started, we already had injuries. As a coach, it's the worst when key fast bowlers get injured. We need suitable replacements, and the Sri Lanka Cricket High Performance Centre must ensure they are available. It's tough for players new to international cricket, but it's good for them to gain experience. It’s challenging," Jayasuriya concluded.