We need to do the hard work: Sanga

The Sri Lankan skipper was responding to a suggestion that victory on Monday against India will all but assure the hosts of a place in the final. “We have just won the first game, there are three more games to go,” he replied.

“Our job is to go out there and play good cricket tomorrow, make sure we take advantage of the conditions if we are bowling or bat through the tough periods if we are batting. We need to make sure we do the hard work, especially in the top order, so that the lower order has an easier time.”

Sangakkara didn’t agree with the sentiment that India were a little under-prepared going into Monday’s game. “Sides don’t practice one day, it doesn’t mean you aren’t prepared,” he countered.

“We would like to practice properly every day that we do go to training but preparation is something sides do very differently. The Indians know they are a good side, everyone knows that. They will be banking on their confidence and their immense ability to try and counter whatever comes their way,” the left-handed batsman said.

Unprovoked, the Lankan skipper sang paeans of praise for Abhimanyu Mithun as he reflected on the Indian bowling.

“The Indian bowlers are all very good bowlers. It doesn’t matter whether Mithun was new, I thought he bowled exceptionally well during the Test series and he didn’t do anything wrong in the first one-dayer either, the fatigue got to him maybe a bit,” Sangakkara observed.

“Whatever the bowlers do, they will enjoy bowling on a track like this. It is a good contest for the batsmen. We all play differently as individuals, we all talk about individual plans and strategies we will have on the wicket but that will vary. We are aware of what each one is trying to do and we let everyone do that but in a very positive frame of mind.”