Colombo: Sri Lanka is most likely going to announce a different captain for the India series which is scheduled to be played in July 2021. Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Lahiru Thirimanne are some of the senior players that are going to be missing from the squad.
“We are focusing on the 2023 World Cup and this is a good learning experience for the players. We want to groom a new captain and most probably Kudal Mendis is tipped to be the new Vice-Captain. We want to give him that confidence by naming him as the vice-captain,” a senior officer in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) told Daily News Sri Lanka.
The report suggests that Karunaratne would no longer be the captain of the Sri Lankan team who was the skipper since the start of Cricket World Cup 2019. Kusal Perera could be the next captain for the 5-match T20I series and the 3-match ODI series.
“The selectors want to give opportunities to the young players, so it’s likely that several senior players will get dropped from the side. Our aim is to set up shadow players for the national team and especially to focus on the 2023 World Cup” the official added.
Recently Sri Lanka announced the team for the Bangladesh tour which named Perera as the captain of the team. That team might be the probable team for the India vs Sri Lanka series of July 2021.
Predicted Squad for series against India: Kusal Perera (C), Kusal Mendis (VC), Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chameera, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando