Sri Lanka dare to dream of India Test upset

KOLK ATA: Captain Dinesh Chandimal is dreaming of Sri Lanka making history by winning a Test in India – despite being huge underdogs against the world’s top-ranked side when the series begins in Kolkata tomorrow.

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,” said Chandimal.

“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 do well and the areas we needed to improve,” he said.

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

“The mistake you can make here is come and be infatuated with the Indian side and concentrating too much on them.

“We know they are a good side. But we played them months ago,” the South African added.

The Indians have not lost a home series in any format since being beaten by South Africa in one-dayers in 2015. — AFP