Rex Clementine in Bombay

Stand-in captain Hardik Pandya applauded Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit and expected them to play exciting cricket during their tour of India but added that his team is not focusing only to avenge the Asia Cup defeat last year.

India came into the Asia Cup in UAE ranked number one and they were the favourites to win the title but suffered a shock defeat against Dasun Shanaka’s side. Sri Lanka went onto win the competition beating Pakistan in the finals.

“They took the game away from us in Asia Cup so we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again. They are a very exciting team, you can see a lot of emotion also there because obviously what happened in the past in the country and that gave them more motivation to go out there and be in a zone that they’re ready to do anything and everything possible,” Pandya said in response to a question from The Island.

“They play like a group, like brothers, so Sri Lanka is a very good team and we will hope that we have a clash which entertains everyone,” he added.

“We’re not looking to settle scores. We want to play good cricket. Yes, we will make them feel like we’re in India, don’t worry about that, I assure and promise you they will feel that. So from my boys and my side, we’re going to be clear. We don’t need to go and sledge them, our body language is enough for them to feel a little intimidated which we will do, I promise you.”

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka expected India to come back hard after what happened in Dubai. “After the Asia Cup we expect India to come strong at us. In T-20s any team that does well will win. Even underdogs can win. The quality of cricket we play is going to be important. That is the thing in our control.”

Shanaka also said that the tour will be a good exposure for young players ahead of this year’s World Cup to be held in India in October and November. “With the World Cup around the corner, this tour is very important. Lot of guys haven’t played in India and therefore they need to get some experience playing here. Conditions will be good for batters. They will enjoy the conditions more than playing in Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lanka: (From) Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, , Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Thushara.

India: (From) Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.