Sri Lankan cricket team captain Dinesh Chandimal address reporters at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on August 11, 2017. The third Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka starts in Pallekele on August 12. / AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI
Dinesh Chandimal has had one bad Test as skipper but it already seems like ages since he managed a win under his belt. Such has been India’s dominance and Lanka’s ineptitude in the first two Tests of the three-match series, the two-Test-old captain (including the one against Zimbabwe) is under great pressure to avoid a whitewash.
“Pressure is always there,” he said on the eve of the third Test here on Friday. “We’re two down now but still we’re really a good team. As a team we’re hoping to win this game. The series is not yet over. As a captain, I don’t like to lose. We’re giving out full effort to that but we cannot control the ultimate result. If we can (win) that definitely we can get more confidence. So we’re looking forward to that,” he remarked.
While admitting that these were tough times for his team, Chandimal sought to lead from the front. “It’s a difficult task but the real captain has to stay with the team at difficult moments,” he stressed. “It’s a big challenge for the whole team but if one or two youngsters can come out and shine to a level that we can win this game, it’s a great morale-booster to the whole team as well. We mustn’t forget the fact that we’re up against the World’s number one team. We’re also waiting to pick that win,” he observed.
Chandimal also rued frequent injuries to his players that often left Lanka with a batsman or a bowler short or both in the first two Tests. Asela Gunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep and Rangana Herath missed major to minor duration of plays, affecting Lanka’s batting and bowling departments.
“India is a really good team,” he began. “Especially in the last two to three years. But if you see, every time players of my team are getting injured -- Asela in the first game and then Nuwan and Herath in the second game. Then the captain, manager and the selectors… No one can get the right combination. Especially, if you lose players like Rangana, Nuwan Pradeep and Asela. They are really good players. We’re struggling because of that also, but we don’t want to give excuses,” offered Chandimal.