Due to an injury, Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Tikshan won’t be able to play their first match in the World Cup. Sri Lankan coach Chris Silverwood revealed this at a pre-match press conference. Today, Sri Lanka will face South Africa at 2:30 PM Bangladesh time.
Even though Tikshan cannot play due to his injury, Sri Lanka is prepared for the match, with Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Perera stepping up to fill the void left by the injured captain. Tikshan sustained an injury during the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, which prevented him from participating in the semi-finals. Despite concerns, he was included in the World Cup squad. However, due to his injury, he couldn’t join the team in India until October 3rd.
Tikshan’s injury also prevented Wanindu Hasaranga from participating in the World Cup. Hasaranga is another key player for Sri Lanka, and his absence has been felt both in the Asia Cup and now in the World Cup. However, the injury has kept him sidelined for six to eight weeks, and he wasn’t able to secure a spot in the World Cup squad.
Without Tikshan, the responsibility of the spin department now falls on the shoulders of Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Velalage, and Dushmantha Hemantara. With experienced Dhananjaya guiding newcomers Velalage and Hemantara, Sri Lanka aims to maintain its spin bowling strength.
The latest Asia Cup showcased the emergence of young Dunith Velalage, especially in dismantling India’s powerful batting lineup. Coach Silverwood spoke about this young all-rounder and his contribution to the team.
Silverwood said, “Dunith (Velalage) has shown what a fantastic cricketer he is. His mindset is mature. In my opinion, he’s playing mature cricket so far. We don’t want to put extra pressure on him. He knows his role in the team, and he’s happy with it.”
Sri Lanka’s coach also emphasized that they want to maintain a supportive and encouraging environment for Dunith Velalage.
