In the wake of their resounding loss to India in the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka’s cricket team finds renewed motivation as they gear up for a pivotal World Cup clash against the formidable hosts. Coach Chris Silverwood emphasized this point on Wednesday as the Sri Lankan side readies to face the undefeated Indian team at Mumbai’s prestigious Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The two teams had previously clashed in the regional tournament in September, resulting in a disheartening 10-wicket drubbing for Sri Lanka, who could muster only 50 runs.
Sri Lanka enters this high-stakes encounter with a relatively modest record of two wins in six matches, coupled with a prior defeat to Afghanistan. In contrast, India has lived up to their billing as tournament favorites, amassing an impressive six victories in as many games, including a dominating performance against the defending champions, England.
Silverwood expressed his hopes, stating, “I’d rather hope that the defeat in the Asia Cup would give more motivation to the boys to come out and obviously fight tomorrow, show plenty of spirit and get stuck into the Indian side. They’re a very good side, we know that, we’ve seen them play some superb cricket this tournament so far. But I think it’s a good opportunity for our boys to show what they’re made of as well.”
This encounter holds historical significance as Sri Lanka, victors of the 1996 World Cup, return to the very venue where they faced India in the 2011 final. In that memorable match, led by M.S. Dhoni, India triumphed at the Wankhede Stadium to claim the coveted trophy.
Silverwood noted the team’s awareness of the historical context, saying, “The boys are very aware of the history, to be honest. Obviously, players do talk about the past history of their team as well and the results that they’ve had. But let’s be honest, it’s a great stadium. And when you are out in the middle, you get goosebumps. There’s plenty of things out there to motivate them to perform in front of what will be a packed house.”
With Sri Lanka’s hopes of advancing to the semi-finals hanging by a thread, a victory on Thursday becomes paramount to their ambitions. Silverwood acknowledged the team’s disappointment following their previous result, emphasizing their commitment to addressing the issues and preparing diligently for the upcoming challenge.
While India’s impressive run in the World Cup at home has raised expectations among their fans, Captain Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate match. He added that the team’s strategy would adapt to the pitch and conditions, remaining open to the possibility of fielding an extra spinner based on the circumstances.
Regarding the upcoming match against Sri Lanka, Rohit asserted, “We can’t say this game will be a cakewalk. We will focus on our plans and try to win the game. As for the 2011 World Cup final, only a few players from that match are still playing. We deal with this game as a fresh challenge.”
