Variety in the bowling making big difference for India: Aravinda de Silva

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder and captain Arvinda de Silva feels that a current India side is a complete unit because of their brilliant bowling attack. Sri Lankan cricket is going through a transition phase after the retirement of legends like Kumara Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Tillakaratne Dilshan. The performance of the Island nation has dipped terribly which gets even worse against India.

During a chat with Hindustan Times, the 1996 world-cup winning member said that the current Indian side is a better side than he faced during his time. De Silva felt that it is the bowling which has made the difference and that has helped India’s dominance in the ODIs.

He said that India’s batting was always strong and experienced but India’s bowlers who can take wickets in every condition are making the difference.

“The key difference in this side is bowlers. India’s batting was always powerful and high on experience but they have developed bowlers who can take wickets in all conditions. This was one factor lacking in the team of the mid-90s whom I played against,” said de Silva who had troubled the Indians on a number of occasions. His quick-fire 66 off 47 balls in the 1996 World Cup semi-final at the Eden Gardens was a key moment during the game.

Pacers who can touch 90 mph on a regular basis

According to de Silva, the Indian thinktank is utilizing their bowlers pretty well. He felt that India have bowlers for every condition. “When wickets are flatter and slower, they have the two wrist-spinners (Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav) at their disposal,” said the former right-hander. “They have pacers who can touch 90 mph on a regular basis. This variety makes a big difference,” de Silva added.

Talking about Sri Lanka’s terrible dip in form, de Silva suggested that the team is young and dropping of players and changing captains regularly hasn’t helped the side. “The current side is still young. We lack consistent selections when it comes to players or captains. This does not give confidence to the side which is under transition,” de Silva said.

Team India is set to play a tri-series in the Island nation which starts from Tuesday where the hosts will be up against India in the series where Bangladesh is the third team.