Sri Lanka Taking Help from Rajasthan Royals to Prepare for India Series

Interim Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has revealed that the Sri Lankan cricket team is taking assistance from the Indian Premier League's Rajasthan Royals (RR) to prepare for their upcoming series against India. Jayasuriya disclosed that Zubin Bharucha, RR's director of high performance, has been instrumental in helping the Sri Lankan batters get ready for the three-match T20I series.

Sri Lanka is set to play India in the T20I series starting on 27 July. Jayasuriya, who has temporarily taken over the head coach position, is aiming to turn around the team's fortunes in the T20 format following their disappointing group-stage exit in the T20 World Cup 2024. The team's former captain, Wanindu Hasaranga, also stepped down from his role after the World Cup.

To bolster their preparations, Sri Lanka enlisted the help of Zubin Bharucha, known for his role in developing talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal. Bharucha conducted a six-day workshop with the Sri Lankan players, focusing on new techniques and approaches.

"We just started the sessions just after the LPL. Most of the players are playing the LPL, so they were busy with cricket, and what we wanted was to play cricket as much as possible," Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by PTI. "We got Zubin from Rajasthan Royals, and we had about six days of work with the other cricketers who finished with the LPL. I hope the players have learned what you (management) wanted to do in terms of practice and their technique. It is important to learn new techniques, new approaches, and shot-making to be effective as international cricketers," he added.

Regarding the team's preparation for the series, Jayasuriya mentioned that they would be resting for two days before the first match, scheduled for 27 July.

Sri Lanka Squad for T20I Series Against India:

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando.

This collaboration with Bharucha and the Rajasthan Royals reflects Sri Lanka's commitment to enhancing their T20 performance and preparing robustly for the upcoming challenges against India.