‘No team can be taken lightly’- Gautam Gambhir rates Sri Lanka as threat ahead of T20 World Cup 2022

Former India batter and World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir has suggested that Sri Lanka could add threat to India’s chances in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

Sri Lanka relished an impressive Asia Cup campaign after clinching the title against Pakistan last month on September 11. However, during the initial stages of the tournament, it did not appear as though the Asia Cup 2022 was going Sri Lanka's way as they had lost to Afghanistan in the opener. But they, eventually, managed a string of sublime victories that helped them lift the title.

Former India batter Gambhir thinks Sri Lanka are the team that can give rival sides a run for their money in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.

Gautam Gambhir says ‘no team can be taken lightly’

While speaking on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', the 2007 World Cup winner said that the recent success relished by the Lankan side will help them progress further. Moreover, Rohit Sharma and Co. suffered an unceremonious exit from the Asia Cup 2022 after facing defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka during the Super 4 stage.

"Sri Lanka, because of the kind of success they have had at the Asia Cup. The way they are playing, the way they are probably peaking at the right time, And with (Dushmantha) Chameera and Lahiru Kumara coming in, they probably got most of their places covered. They are going to be a threat and so they are going to take a lot of confidence in the T20 World Cup,” said Gambhir.

He also advised India on how to approach rival sides at the T20 World Cup highlighting that no team can be taken lightly in the shortest format of the sport. "Just like any other game, just like against Pakistan, South Africa or any other game. No team can be taken lightly especially in a format like T20, because in a T20, the shorter the format, any team can upset anyone," Gambhir added.

Sri Lanka will need to finish in the top two of Group A in the First Round to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the tournament.