Nidahas Trophy: Chandika Hathurusingha tips India as the favourites to win the tournament

As we gear up for the Tri-Nation series between India, Bangladesh and the hosts Sri Lanka, there’s no denying the fact that the men in blue start the tournament as the favourites. A series that is organised to commemorate the 70th year of Independence for Sri Lanka, is already high on expectations. Despite some big names missing for the Indian team, the Rohit Sharma led side would still reckon to be the toughest opponent to beat given the experience each individual carries in the shortest version of the game.

Forming a similar opinion was the Sri Lankan head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha, in his view, the Sub-Continent giants are favourites to lift the trophy as they go into the tournament on the back of highly successful limited-overs leg in South Africa. The team boasts of some young recruits who have gained a lot of exposure courtesy their T-20 domestic league which could come in handy for them in the forthcoming tournament.

Need to start well

Aware of the prospects that lie ahead for his team in the prestigious tournament, Chandika Hathurusingha wants the team to begin well against the mighty Indians. According to the former Sri Lankan cricketer, the men in blue is a force in reckoning and are the No. 1 team given the opponents that they will face in the Nidahas Trophy. He even stressed on the slight mental edge that they possess over the Tigers considering their past successful results against the men in green but reiterated on the need to start well to gain some momentum going forward in the series.

“If you go by the ratings, India is the no. 1 team, so they always start ahead of the other teams. Whoever comes for India is a very strong team. We have to start well because we haven’t been doing well at home. With Bangladesh, because of the last series, we probably have a little edge over them mentally. But still India is the no. 1 team,” reckons the coach as he was quoted as saying by Zee News.

On Malinga

Chandika even revealed the team’s plans going ahead with the Lasith Malinga, another legend of the game who is nearing the twilight of his career.

“Lasith is a wonderful player – someone who has a global reputation, not just in Sri Lanka. I think he’s an icon player for the game. Like in basketball they have Michael Jordan, and Malinga is that with cricket. Regarding form, he has done well in the recent past. I can’t talk about what was talked about in the selectors’ meeting, but I think he can contribute to Sri Lankan cricket in the future,” he concluded.

The tournament opener is scheduled to take place between India and Sri Lanka on March 6 at RPS Colombo before every team plays each other twice as the top two teams lock horns in the final on March 18.

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