Thisara Perera confident of beating India in the shortest format

As the format gets shorter the difference between the two teams shrinks and with a few new faces in the T20I squad, Sri Lanka will look to bounce back and surprise the Men in Blue. Given the dynamics of the shortest format of the game, no team can be taken for granted as a match can turn on its head from any position.

The Sri Lankan captain Thisara Perera believes that Sri Lanka can upset India in the T20I series which starts on Wednesday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. After a disappointing loss in the ODI series, the visitors will look to reassess their form and keep the negativity aside.

It was a bad ODI series

“It was a bad ODI series but we have to take good things from the first match. There were a lot of positives. We have to flush out the negatives. It’s a new series and we hope to start well. We have good talents, death bowlers, power hitters. We will do our best tomorrow. I’ve to give more confidence to the young players. I don’t think they have pressure, they have to give 100 percent. Personally, I know they have a good mindset and they can come very strongly,” Perera told reporters on the eve of the opening game.

He believes that Sri Lanka will look to get more than 150 in the first T20I, with opener Upul Tharanga in form the Lankans can dominate if he bats well. Perera was asked about Tharanga and he said, “He made some technical changes which were the main reason for his success. I’ve to thank our batting coach.”

T20I in Cuttack

The Barabati Stadium in Cuttack has only witnessed one T20I so far in which the spectators indulged in hooliganism. India played South Africa in the 2nd T20I in 2015 when they were bowled out for a mere 92. The fans were dejected and as a result, threw water bottles in the playing area. India will want to change their fortune at the venue.