T20 World Cup 2022: 5 reasons why Sri Lanka can be dark horses at the tournament

Sri Lanka have written an incredible underdog story at the Asia Cup 2022. They were dismantled in the first game against Afghanistan but then scripted a remarkable turnaround as Dasun Shanaka & Co. rose against the odds to clinch the Asia Cup crown for the sixth time. Sri Lanka have shown that they can’t be taken lightly in the multi-nation tournaments. With T20 World Cup around the corner, the Lankan Lions can threaten to go all the way. Let us look at why Sri Lanka can be a dark horse going into the marquee event. 1. Ace Spinners Sri Lanka have some of the best spinners in the T20 circuit. The likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are giants of the game in the shortest format and have been vital to Sri Lanka’s success of late. The spin duo showed their might in the Asia Cup. They spun their web around the opposition and the top-ranked T20 sides were left reeling. The pair can bowl at any phase of the game, be it powerplay, middle-overs, or death. The Lankan spinners will be tough to get away with in the big grounds of Australia. The combined eight overs from the spin-twin can be a nightmare for the opposition and add to that the wily spinner Dhananjaya de Silva. ‘Spin to Win’ can be the mantra of Shanka & Co. in the upcoming marquee event. 2. Dasun Shanaka - The Inspirational Captain There has been a meteoric rise in the stocks of Dasun Shanaka in the last couple of years. The Sri Lankan skipper has been an inspirational leader of the side and has led from the front. He was handed a side having a promising bunch of youngsters and Shanaka has created match-winners out of them. With the bat, Shanaka has played the role of the finisher to perfection. He has been calm and composed in crunch situations and helped his side to seal games even from the dead. The 31-year-old’s presence in the lower middle order has been an assurance from the top order to play freely. The veteran all-rounder has been more than handy with the ball. He is a wily customer and is known to outfox batters with his pace variations. Shanaka is seen bowling the death overs as well which adds to the options Sri Lanka has in the bowling-arsenal. 3. Cohesive Unit Sri Lanka has shown in the recent past that they are a cohesive unit. They are not a side that banks on certain superstar players to win them the game. The Lankan Lions play as a team and it's the collective effort that wins them the game. The saying ‘Unity is strength’ is what the Sri Lankan side depicts. In the Asia Cup 2022, different players were raising their hands on different days. This is evident from the fact that the Lankan players got four Player of the Match awards in the Asian tournament and all were different individuals. On a given day, any group of individuals could turn up and change the game for their side. This is one of the prime reasons why Dasun Shanaka & Co. became the champions of Asia Cup. Sri Lanka‘s teamwork stands out for them making them a dangerous side. 4. Batting Depth The Sri Lankan side does bat quite deep. The team comprises many quality all-rounders in the form of Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne and the skipper Shanaka. This enables the Lankan Lions to play a well-rounded side. Sri Lanka's batting lineup has stroke-makers like Hasaranga at No. 7 and Karunaratne at No.8, which enables the top-order to go all-guns-blazing. The depth in the batting department was on display in the concluded multi-nation tournament. It was the lower order that bailed them out on certain occasions even in the Asia Cup finals. Moreover, when the injured Dushmantha Chameera is added to the mix, the batting will be stretched further as he can play handy cameos with the bat. The insane batting depth of Shanaka & Co. makes them a feared opposition in the upcoming World Cup. 5. Solid Openers The seaming conditions of Australia make the new-ball bowlers a threat. Also, most of the teams have quality new-ball bowlers and this makes the role of openers important in Australia. Sri Lanka are blessed with solid openers in the form of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. The duo has been Sri Lanka’s rock at the top of the order in Asia Cup 2022. The opening pair has been in great form with the bat and has been instrumental in giving their team brisk starts. Both Nissanka and Mendis are good players of pace and spin. They can shepherd the innings beautifully and can also go berserk if the need be. The opening duo will be key for Sri Lanka in the global tournament in October.

T20 World Cup 2022: 5 reasons why Sri Lanka can be dark horses at the tournament

Sri Lanka have written an incredible underdog story at the Asia Cup 2022 and can't be taken lightly in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia

2. Dasun Shanaka - The Inspirational Captain