Lanka dare to dream of upset

Kolkata, Nov. 14: Captain Dinesh Chandimal is dreaming of Sri Lanka making history by winning a Test in India — despite being huge underdogs against the world’s topranked side when the series begins in Kolkata on Thursday.

Sri Lanka lost all nine matches — three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international — as they were humiliated at home by Virat Kohli’s tourists from late July to September. The island nation have still never won a Test on Indian soil but they head for Eden Gardens with renewed hopes after winning both Tests against Pakistan in the UAE last month and Chandimal believes dreams can come true.

“We did really well against Pakistan and the boys are in a good shape,” Chandimal said.

“We know India are the number one team at the moment and have seen them play some really good cricket in the last two years. This will be a challenging series for us.

“We have never won a Test in India. So it’s a dream for us to win one this time. We need to start well in this series,” he declared.

Sri Lanka lost all three home Tests this year against India inside four days with Chandimal terming it their “worst ever” series.

Coach Nic Pothas, who took over after Graham Ford left in June, said the India debacle had taught his team vital lessons.

“We learnt how Indian team does well and the areas we needed to improve,” he said.

“It’s internal — the discipline, the culture and how the teams stick together,” Pothas added.