ICC World Cup 2019 | We are a team with limited talent but can beat anyone if we play smart, says Dimuth Karunaratne

The Sri Lankan team had gone through what could be described as a golden era only a few years back, where between 2007 and 2011, they were runner ups in as many as five ICC tournaments, while being semi finalists in two others and also managing to win a World T20 in 2014. However, they are facing a slump that follows every unusual high and thus are not able to keep up with the cricketing giants. Yet, they have their own strategies, which can help them achieve success.

“We are a team with limited talent. If you compare us with a lot of other sides, we have major limitations. For example, the India side has someone who hits a hundred virtually in every match. In our team, we've only had one or two centurions all year. Their openers can hit the big shots any time they want. They can defend any time they want. If they want to be 70 or 80 after ten overs, they can do that, and if the conditions are tough, they can be 30 or 40 for no loss after ten as well,” he was quoted saying to ESPN Cricinfo.

“So we have to work within those limitations. We have to compete, but we can't copy India. We have our own rhythm. The way we make 300 is not the same as the way they do it. If we play smart, we can beat anyone,” the skipper added.

So far in the tournament, they have been subpar with the bat, getting rattled by the Black Caps and getting out for a meek total of 136 and even against a comparatively weak Afghanistan bowling lineup, they just managed to garner a disappointing 201. However, Karunaratne believes he knows how to get the spirits of his players high again.

“If you look at a player like Kusal Mendis, it's only in the last two games that he hasn't scored. He did well in South Africa, and he did well against Scotland. Someone like Angelo, meanwhile, is a different thing. He's someone who might make a duck today but could come out and hit a hundred tomorrow. It's players like Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva that we need to guide a little bit more. If they get beaten up on social media, that does affect them mentally. In Sri Lanka, you've got a lot of people with a lot of opinions. Players who are struggling can sometimes dip even lower because of that. When someone is struggling like that, the best thing you can do is just to make them comfortable around the team,” he quoted.