Sri Lanka vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal on Thursday said that his team was not too much worried about Virat Kohli’s fine form as his side’s bowling attack can unsettle the Indian batting line-up in their crucial Asia Cup league match in Mirpur on Friday.
The Lankans began their Asia Cup campaign with a 12-run victory over defending champions Pakistan with Lasith Malinga taking a five-for, and Chandimal said his side’s bowling can take on the Indian batting.
“India are a very good side, especially in last two three years they have been playing good cricket. Virat Kohli is batting exceptionally well. They have some really good players but we’ve got bowlers like Malinga. So we will see tomorrow,” Chandimal said on the sidelines of the team’s practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“We are also doing well at the moment. Everyone in both batting and bowling departments are in good form. We are looking forward to a good job.”
Kohli smashed a match-winning 136 to set up India’s 280-run chase against Bangladesh last night and snap their eight-ODI winless streak.
“We all know, he is a really good batsman. But as I said we have something in our mind and we will see it tomorrow. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” said Chandimal.
“They played really special. They are good at chasing but we have a good bowling attack. We have something in our sleeves for them tomorrow so we are looking forward to do that.”
Chandimal said they would look to take early wickets to expose the inexperience Indian middle order without Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Having come in Bangladesh in January for a full series, Sri Lanka would have the advantage of knowing the conditions better, Chandimal said.
“We are here for quite some time, we know the conditions better like when the dew is going to play a role and how the wicket would behave... We have got the advantage.”
Rating Malinga as the number one pacer in the world, the Lankan vice captain said: “He is a specialist bowler and at the moment he is the number one bowler in the world. He works hard in practice and is learning everyday. He has this natural ability to reverse the ball.”
Chandimal hinted that their mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis may be included tomorrow.
“He is a wicket taking bowler. I think he has a good chance to play in tomorrow’s game.”
