With many first-team players missing due to injury, Sri Lanka could not perform as per expectations in the ODI World Cup 2023. They missed Wanindu Hasaranga massively in the competition while skipper Dasun Shanaka and Maheesh Theekshana were ruled out in the middle of the tournament as things kept on worsening for the team.
Despite a few key players missing, Sri Lanka had the team that should have at least qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the Lankan Lions managed to win only two out of their nine matches in the league stage and ended up finishing ninth on the points table. After Shanaka’s injury, Kusal Mendis was appointed as the leader, but he could not inspire his team to a better finish. His form with the bat dipped as well after being appointed as the captain, which once again was a massive blow for the team.
Sri Lanka started the tournament with a massive 102-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in Delhi. However, the batters put up a good show under pressure on a few occassions and there was belief that the team could bounce back. Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dilshan Madushanka were a few positives and if Sri Lanka manage to nurture them well, these cricketers can write a new chapter for the team in the coming years.
The good, bad and not so pretty
Lankan batters lacked consistency big time. The experienced Kusal Perera blew hot and cold while his partner Pathum Nissanka got starts but failed to convert those. He ended up scoring 332 runs in nine matches but given his talent, Nissanka could have had a 500-run season, which could have painted a different story for Sri Lanka.
Asalanka and Samarawickrama had a good tournament but their strike rate was poor. These players have potential and need to work on certain factors to get better to become world-class batters in the coming times.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s biggest plus point was Dilshan Madushanka. The 23-year-old picked up 21 wickets in just nine matches and finished as one of the leading wicket-takers of the ODI World Cup 2023. He was giving the perfect start with the ball but Sri Lanka were losing the game in the middle overs as players like Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha and Dushmantha Chameera among others failed to give timely breakthroughs.
The moment that mattered
Sri Lanka faced Bangladesh in their second-last game of the tournament and had a decent start with the bat as Charith Asalanka hit a century. However, the 26-year-old desperately needed a partner in the middle and that is when veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews was timed out to become the first batter to be dismissed in that manner. Notably, Mathews’ helmet malfunctioned, which took him some time to get ready but Shakib Al Hasan appealed to the umpire and eventually Matthews was given out.
Sri Lanka finished their first innings 279 runs as Bangladesh ended up winning the match by three wickets. In their final league game, the Lankan Lions lost to New Zealand by five wickets and with that, their dream of qualifying for the Champions Trophy ended in misery.
Remember the names
Dilshan Madushanka can prove to be a future star for Sri Lanka. The pacer was brilliant with the new ball and was not shy of hitting the deck. The batters often failed to go after him in the powerplay and he was extremely successful with the new ball.
Two other players who were impressive were Nissanka and Samarawickrama. Nissanka gave perfect starts in most of the matches but as mentioned previously, he could not convert his starts into a big score. For Samrawickrama, his batting strike rate was an issue but he had no choice as Sri Lanka often lost wickets early and there was pressure on the middle order. However, Samarawickrama kept his calm and delivered well as he ended up scoring 373 runs in nine matches.
Future fermentation
Right after their campaign ended in the ODI World Cup 2023, the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket due to government interference in the board. Once that issue is cleared, the board needs to set up a proper plan to improve the level of cricket and to give players more opportunities to represent the national team.
Many of the players are slowly inclining towards T20 cricket, which is not a good sign for their ODI or Test future. Hence, they will have to motivate the cricketers and get them contracted as the team currently has good cricketers, who can change the course in the coming years.
Coming of age
Sri Lanka have a lot of young cricketers who can write history for them in the coming years. Players like Asalanka, Madushanka, Theekshana and Matheesa Pathirana along with the injured Wanindu Hasaranga have the quality to take Sri Lanka back to the top. However, these players need to stay motivated to represent the nation and stay hungry to win a world medal.
After a dismal performance in the 1999 World Cup, Sri Lanka slowly fought back in 2003 and ended up finishing second best in 2007 and 2011. This generation of cricketers should take inspiration from the same, and get better to fight for the championship.