Sri Lanka’s second-string side against India will be a no-contest: Aakash Chopra
The much-anticipated contest between India and Sri Lanka has been postponed after two members from the host camp tested positive for Covid-19. The series is set to kick start from July 18th for which the Lankans have kept a backup squad. However, the cricket-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reckoned that Sri Lanka’s first-team itself is comparatively weaker.
Sri Lanka faced a dismaying defeat against England recently where they were white-washed. The team could not make a mark earlier against Bangladesh as well. Thus, ahead of their series with India, it would be an acid test for Sri Lanka. Talking about their performances Aakash Chopra pointed that though there are two teams out there, Sri Lanka’s first team doesn’t seem to provide a tough fight.
“Sri Lanka also had two teams ready. One is in isolation, which has come back from England and the other one was practising in Dambulla. But just think about it, Sri Lanka’s first side is already fairly weak.” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
A bilateral series anyway does not have context: Aakash Chopra
A lot of chatter is swirling in the wind about the Indian team that has travelled to Sri Lanka. The team possesses a good mix of youngsters and experienced players and thus, the absence of key players who are currently in England doesn’t seem to bother the combination much. Chopra further highlighted that if Sri Lanka had to play with their second-string team against India, then it would scrap all the contests from the bilateral series, which they already lack more often than not.
Sri Lanka was brought under a lot of scrutinies for the performance. They couldn’t really bounce back in the ODIs neither the T20Is against England after the last game was washed out. Owing to which they became the bearers of the unwanted record of being the team with most ODI losses. Aakash Chopra also put forward the opinions of the former Sri Lankan players on the team that would face India for the white ball games.
“In such a scenario, if their second-string side was made to play, it would not have been a contest. A bilateral series anyway does not have context and if you remove the contest as well, what will be the fun. Former Sri Lankan players believe that if the Sri Lankan main team wins even one match against the so-called second-string Indian team, it will be like a miracle because India’s second-string Indian team is better than their first team.” Aakash asserted.
