T20 World Cup 2021: Maheesh Theekshana likely to miss a few games of Super 12 stage

Sri Lanka mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana might miss a few games for his team during the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup due to side-strain. The youngster, who was the team’s most impressive bowler during Round 1 had some discomfort while bowling against the Netherlands.

He picked eight wickets in just three matches, and was also pivotal in his side’s win over the Netherlands, in Sri Lanka’s last Qualifier game. Theekshana picked up two top-order wickets and was a catalyst in bundling out the Netherlands for just 44. Bhanuka Rajapaksa confirmed that the spin bowler has a side strain and the team won’t risk him playing against Bangladesh in the first match of the Super 12 stage on Sunday (October 24).

“The physios have said the decision might be probably to leave him for the next game,” Bhanuka Rajapaksa said on Friday according to Cricket.com. “We don’t want to risk it by playing him and then him not playing in the rest of the series. For the moment he will be missing the next game as far as I know. It’s not 100% decided yet, but most probably, he will miss the first game and then play the rest of the games.”

Sri Lanka gave a good account of themselves in the Qualifiers and cruised to victory in both their games against Namibia and Ireland. Apart from Theekshana, the pace bowlers Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, and Chamika Karunaratne too bowled well. Rajapaksa said the spinners complemented the pacer bowlers well and performed well.

“I think it’s such a benefit having two bowlers who are bowling above 90mph. Any batsman, they get shook because bowling at 145 [kph] plus and not having any room, just bowling in good areas, it’s always difficult as a batsman to get over,” he added.

Spinners have been very good for us: Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Rajapaksa further opined that the spinners have been bowling beautifully, and that is the reason why the team has done so well in the Qualifiers. “I think at the same time, the spinners have been extremely good for us, and they’ve been sticking to their basics, and that’s one of the reasons why we have been winning throughout this tournament,” Rajapaksa said.