Road Safety World Series 2021: All you need to know about Sri Lanka Legends
The inaugural edition of the Road Safety World Series had started with a bang in March 2020 but had to be stopped due to the uprise in coronavirus cases. The tournament will now finally be completed and has been shifted out of Mumbai and Pune, the venues for the original tournament. The continuation of the first edition of the tournament will now start on March 5th at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.
The tournament is an initiative taken by the Road Safety cell of Maharashtra. Sachin Tendulkar, who will be leading the Indian legends, is also the ambassador of the league with Sunil Gavaskar being the commissioner. Sri Lankan legends will return to play in the league, having played two matches before the pandemic interrupted it.
But, the Sri Lankan legends team will be back this time with some new faces in their line-up. Marvan Atapattu, Chaminda Vaas and Romesh Kaluwitharana are missing from the squad which was announced. On the other hand, former star players Sanath Jayasuriya, Russel Arnold, Upul Tharanga and Nuwan Kulasekara have been added.
Team Announcement: #SriLankaLegends??
The 2021 @Unacademy Road Safety World Series returns on 5th March 2021!
?️Get your tickets here: https://t.co/Puc2pfFq4b pic.twitter.com/mhBVUNJAs1— Road Safety World Series (@RSWorldSeries) March 3, 2021
Batsmen
Tillakaratne Dilshan would be more than happy opening the innings this time around, as he would have the company of Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga, who recently retired from all forms of cricket. The trio is expected to take care of the bulk of the batting in this tournament with the middle order having the likes of Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera and Russel Arnold to make their first XI look quite good on paper.
All-rounders
This team is equipped with options of all-rounders and part-timers, something which the skipper Dilshan would enjoy a lot. Farveez Maharoof and Thilan Thushara can hit the ball long and are effective with the ball as well. There are part-timers like Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Arnold who can always chip in with a few important overs in the middle. Dhammika Prasad and Ajantha Mendis are also good enough batters, in the lower order adding to the depth to this side’s batting.
Bowlers
Considering that the matches will be played in Raipur on a subcontinental wicket, the Sri Lankan legends have bowlers who have the experience of delivering in these conditions. Spinners like Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis will have to play a huge part in this team’s ploy. The addition of Nuwan Kulasekara and Dhammika Prasad will also give an opportunity to Farveez Mahroof and Thilan Thushara to form a good pace bowling combination in this team.
Wicket-keepers
Before the pandemic, there was Romesh Kaluwitharana who took on the responsibility of keeping in this line-up but he has not been named in the squad. Upul Tharanga is someone who has occasionally taken up the role during his playing days, he is expected to keep in this tournament. Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan also has the same experience but his part-time off-spin would be needed, which leaves Tharanga with the role.
Sri Lanka Legends have brought a great squad of experienced players for the tournament and it will be interesting to see how the combination comes together. Their first match will be against West Indies Legends on March 6.
Full squad
Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Farveez Maharoof , Rangana Herath, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Russel Arnold, Dulanjana Wijesinghe and Malinda Warnapura.
