Sri Lankan captain Thisara Perera to treat Sunday's decider as any other normal game

After winning the three-match Test series 1-0 against Sri Lanka, the Men in Blue will aim to do an encore in the ongoing ODI series as well. With two matches already played out, the ODIs are evenly poised with each team winning a game. Both the teams are thus expected to come all guns blazing when they face each other in the decider in Vizag tomorrow.

However, Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain for the tour, Thisara Perera said they will love to treat the decider against India on Sunday like any other normal game. Speaking to media on Saturday, Perera said they had very good and long preparations ahead of the third ODI and the players are all excited.

The 28-year-old skipper said, “India is the best team and they should feel the pressure. For us, it is like any other game. We do have plans for Rohit and Dhawan and others too. Had a talk with the pacers after the Mohali one-dayer where we felt bowling was disappointing and didn’t click.”

He added, “But again these things do happen in one or two games. We have to come back strongly in conditions which are a lot more similar to our home conditions, unlike Dharamshala or Mohali.”

Sri Lanka to go with the same playing XI

The Islanders are expected to play their full team with no injury woes concerning them. Despite putting up a horrific bowling show in Mohali, Sri Lanka are expected to go in with an unchanged XI. However, if they decide to make a change at all, number 3 batsman Lahiru Thirimanne is expected to make way for the centurion from the Delhi Test, Dhananjaya de Silva.

Angelo Mathews, who was Sri Lanka’s sole shining light at Mohali, has recovered from cramps and has been declared fit for the 3rd ODI as well.