Sri Lanka’s interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya feels it is imperative for them to take advantage of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s absence from T20Is. The veteran duo recently retired from T20Is after taking India to glory in Barbados.

Rohit and Virat have all the experience under their belt and India will have their work cut to fill in the big shoes of these two big players. 

While Rohit Sharma scored 257 runs in eight matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71, Kohli scored a vital knock of 76 runs off 59 balls in the all-important final against the Proteas after a disappointing run throughout the tournament. 

Suryakumar Yadav has been given the captaincy baton in T20Is ahead of Hardik Pandya by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are best players in the world. Looking at their talent and the kind of cricket they have played we all know where they belong, along with Jadeja. Their absence will be loss to the Indian team and we have to take maximum advantage out of that,” Jayasuriya said ahead of the T20I series (via Sportstar).

On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s gun fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana said it will be a good challenge for them as India is the World Champions and thus they need to be at their absolute best.

“I think it will be a good challenge. India is coming with a new coach and some new players; their combination will be slightly different. But it will be a good challenge for us because they are world champions,” Pathirana told Sportstar ahead of the series.

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Pallekele on Saturday.