Asela Gunaratne thanks Mumbai Indians stint for helping him against Bumrah, Pandya

With Sri Lanka still needing 51 runs off 42 balls, the job was not over, and the bowlers had just started to creep in the target with some tight bowling while a well set Angelo Mathews stood on the other side of the crease. Sri Lanka with the victory over their neighbours have opened the qualification process with all the teams stuck with 2 points each.

Asela Gunaratne has already finished a few matches for the Island nation, while they toured Australia in a three-match T20 series, but could he do it against the likes of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah? He certainly could.

“Unfortunately, Kusal (Perera) had to retire but we had plenty of wickets in hand. Angelo said not to panic, asked me to play my normal game and told me to hang in there until the final over and I think batting with Angelo helped me immensely,” Gunaratne said after the match.

IPL helped Gunaratne play against Bumrah and Pandya

The calm and composed Sri Lankan captain Mathews received the support that the team needed to cross over the target set by the Indians led by Virat Kohli. When the right-handed Gunarathne swept the ball to the deep square boundary, it was all but certain that he will take the side home with a few balls to spare.

“Even though I could not play any matches in the IPL, I had faced Bumrah and Pandya in the nets so I knew what type of deliveries he will bowl. I think it really helped me to play that shot and that knock. Malinga also explained to me how Bumrah varies his deliveries so I had a clear idea on how to counter him.” Gunaratne stated when asked about how Mumbai Indians camp helped his batting.

“I usually start slowly and then strike later at the time I feel correct. Today, I had to go big from the start with the asking rate in 7 per over. I know I have the ability to stay till the end and finish off games,” he concluded.