Sri Lankan manager wants Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene as consultants

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have been two pillars of Sri Lankan cricket. The two legends of the game were immensely important for the betterment of the Lankan cricket. Their importance was felt more only after the retirement of the deadly duo. They were the foundation on which the Lankan structure rested, and after their retirement, the humongous structure crumbled to earth.

Sri Lankan cricket has followed a downward spiral ever since the two greats decided to hang up their boots. Unfortunately for Sri Lankan cricket, the replacement of the duo is yet not found. Current Sri Lankan manager Asanka Gurusinha wants the legendary partners to reunite as the consultants of the Lions. However, both Kumar and Mahela have their own commitments.

Sangakkara is still playing in different leagues over the world. Mahela is trying out his luck in the coaching circuit and has been doing very well in the recent past. Under his guidance, Mumbai Indians became the first team to win three Indian Premier League (IPL) titles.

“I’ll be happy if Mahela and Sanga can also help us in some way, maybe as consultants. But they’ve their own commitments,” said Gurusinha while speaking to xtratime.in.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka will take on India for the first Test match of the three Tests series. “It’s going to be a very interesting, challenging series. When you’re playing the No 1 side in the world, it’s going to be tough cricket. You can’t just keep saying ‘we’re in a transition from early last year. I think now the players also understand their responsibility. They need to be accountable for what they do, and they’re doing that very well,” commented Gurusinha regarding the series.

Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal is set to miss the first Test as he is down with viral fever. Veteran spinner Rangana Herath will wear the cap of responsibility. But Gurusinha feels Herath is experienced enough to handle the situation. “I think he’s experienced enough to not get worried about it. He’s handling it well. I think it’s his commitment. He’s a perfectionist so he wants to perfect every ball he bowls,” he said.

“Virat is great player to watch”

The 50-year owner of over 6,000 international runs heaped praises on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. “It’s not just the runs that he’s (Virat) scored. From what I’ve seen, it’s his preparation that speaks a lot about him. And that’s what I like about Virat. It’s a lot like Sachin used to work hard behind the scenes, which people didn’t get to see. That’s exactly what Virat’s doing. He’s leading from the front. Because the other players need to follow him since he’s the captain. He’s a great player to watch. I’ve only met him a couple of times, but I think he’s a great guy,” he opined.