FORMER captain Sanath Jayasuriya says Sri Lanka will target India’s bowling when the sides meet in today’s Champions Trophy semi-final at Cardiff.
India start as favourites after wins over South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan, but Jayasuriya, now a selector, is confident of pulling off an upset.
He said: “Their bowling isn’t the best, so we need to have a very good plan
The goal was to make the semi-finals. Anything can happen now.”
Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand in their opening match but reached the last four with wins over England and Australia.
Kumar Sangakkara hit a match-winning 134 not out in the victory over England, but there have also been contributions from Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Nuwan Kulasekara.
Jayasuriya, who captained Sri Lanka when they shared the Champions Trophy with India in 2002, says his side are hitting form at the right moment.
“I think the side is really coming up,” said the 43-year-old former opener and left-arm spinner, who hit 28 centuries in 445 one-day internationals.
“The batting and the bowling unit has been doing really well for the last two years. I’m happy the way things are going.”
India beat Sri Lanka in the final of the 2011 World Cup and have won seven of the 10 one-day internationals between the sides since, but their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni does not believe that gives them any advantage today.
“What has happened before does not really count because, even if both the teams were the same, they have been a significant amount of changes that have been made to the format – quite a few rules and regulations,” he said.
“Also both the teams are looking very different. (Sri Lanka) are going through a phase where they are missing some of their players. So I think it’s important for both the teams to do well, and I think they’re a very good team.”
The winners of today’s contest will meet England in Sunday’s final after the hosts beat South Africa by seven wickets yesterday. (BBC Sport)