ICC World Cup 2023: On Thursday, India thrashed the Islanders by 302 runs after notching 357/8 and then bundling out Kusal Mendis' side for 55 runs, Sri Lanka's lowest-ever total in the tournament
This is the third time India have dismiss Sri Lanka below 100 runs this year (Pic: AFP)
Sri Lanka's annihilation by India in the recent Asia Cup summit clash in September could potentially have dented the confidence of the players, which led to another crushing defeat in their ICC World Cup 2023 league stage clash against the Men in Blue on Thursday, conceded their batting coach Naveed Nawaz.
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Sri Lanka could only make 50 runs in the Asia Cup final in Colombo and India overhauled the target in just the seventh over, inflicting a crushing 10-wicket defeat on the hosts.
On Thursday, India thrashed the Islanders by 302 runs after notching 357/8 and then bundling out Kusal Mendis' side for 55 runs, Sri Lanka's lowest-ever total in the tournament.
"I thought we (had) flushed (the Asia Cup loss out of our minds) and ended it. We talked about it with those guys as a playgroup, we completely removed it from their heads. We emphasised to them the importance of approaching the upcoming matches without dwelling on it (Asia Cup loss)," Nawaz said following the loss on Thursday.
"However, I think that such an incident (Asia Cup loss) could potentially affect their confidence. Otherwise, in this tournament, we haven't witnessed the ball being attacked in such a manner before. This is the first time I've seen this in this World Cup competition.
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Nawaz indicated that as coaches they could not perform all the tasks, and that specific people were requited for specific jobs.
"As coaches, we do face certain limitations. We can get involved in some things and we can't interfere in everything. We must respect that not all players may openly discuss their issues," he said.
The coach also added that Sri Lankan cricket is not in decline, but in a rebuilding phase and many new players are "still learning the trade".
This is the third time India have dismiss Sri Lanka below 100 runs this year, the previous two occasions being in Thiruvananthapuram in January, where they were decimated for 73 and India achieved its biggest-ever ODI win by 317 runs, and the Asia Cup final, where the Islanders were bundled out for 50 runs.
"It's (batting) a cause for concern, for sure. But I don't see it as the decline of Sri Lanka cricket. We've got a young group of players, we've got only a few guys who have played over 100 ODIs here in this group as well," Nawaz said.
Nawaz said with Sri Lanka's campaign all but over in the World Cup, they will turn their attention to winning the remaining two games in order to finish in the top-eight and qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2025.
"It's going to be important that we finish above the eight to qualify for the Champions Trophy. We've got to find a factor to motivate the boys and keep them alive because we had the same issue in June when we played the World Cup qualifiers," he said.
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Sri Lanka had come through the qualification round in this World Cup and Nawaz said the players will be motivated for the matches to follow.
"There was no guarantee when we went to Zimbabwe to qualify for the World Cup. We've crossed that barrier and we've got a pretty young team. We will get the boys motivated and get back in and somehow see what we can do in the next two games, try, and bring out our best cricket," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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