Former captain Dinesh Chandimal is set to return to the Sri Lankan side for the all-important third and final T20 International against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday, with the series hanging in the balance at 1-1.

Sri Lanka drew first blood in Pallekele, only to suffer a humbling collapse in Dambulla, leaving tonight’s clash as a winner-takes-all showdown under lights in front of a full house.

The 35-year-old Chandimal, who last featured in a T20I over three years ago in February 2022, is expected to slot in at the top of the order in place of the misfiring Avishka Fernando.

“Chandi is a team man to the core,” Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya told reporters on the eve of the decider. “When we asked him to bat at number three in Tests, he didn’t bat an eyelid. He’s always ready to put his hand up and do the job. This is a great opportunity for him to show what he’s got.”

Avishka, who has been striking the ball sweetly in the nets and clearing the ropes with ease, has struggled to replicate that form in the middle, failing to get out of first gear during the series.

“Avishka’s issue isn’t with technique,” Jayasuriya admitted. “He looks a million dollars in training, but match day is a different beast. We’re working with him on the mental side of the game, trying to bridge that gap between practice and performance.”

With tickets snapped up days in advance and anticipation reaching fever pitch, the pressure is firmly on the hosts. But the Sri Lankan camp believes they’re up for the challenge.

“No one enjoys playing under pressure, but that’s the nature of the beast in international cricket,” Jayasuriya said. “The boys know where we went wrong in Dambulla. The fans have put their faith in us and that trust means everything. It’s time to step up and deliver.”

Sri Lanka are also expected to ring in another change with all-rounder Kamindu Mendis likely to get the nod ahead of Chamika Karunaratne. The think tank is also weighing up whether to bring in young left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage in place of leggie Jeffrey Vandersay.

Vandersay, filling in for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, has held his own with tidy spells, but was let down in Dambulla as two chances off his bowling went abegging, costly misses that may yet come back to haunt the team.

by Rex Clementine