It’s remarkable how fortunes in cricket can swing like a pendulum in a matter of weeks. Just last month, New Zealand left Sri Lanka with their tails between their legs, bruised and battered after being steamrolled in both Test matches in Galle.
Their performances were so lackluster that even their skipper, Tim Southee, chose to step down, and most pundits braced for New Zealand to face the music in India. Yet, true to cricket’s nature as the game of glorious uncertainties, the Kiwis staged a comeback that turned heads.
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In Bangalore, relentless rain had left the groundsmen with barely any time to prepare the pitch, and when New Zealand’s quicks bowled on a lively, seaming surface, they struck gold. India, perhaps a touch overconfident, opted to bat after winning the toss, but it backfired spectacularly as they were skittled out for a paltry 46. From there, they were left scrambling to play catch-up.
For the remaining two Tests in Pune and Bombay, India tried a different trick by laying out spinning tracks. But it was a case of hoisting oneself with one’s own petard. India’s batsmen, who had already been haunted by their struggles on turning wickets in Sri Lanka during the ODIs, found themselves floundering again in Tests. Despite their spinners doing the heavy lifting with plenty of wickets, India’s batting stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, failed to rise to the occasion, leaving fans deeply disappointed.
One man’s trash turned out to be another’s treasure; Mitchell Santner, who couldn’t buy a wicket in Galle, suddenly found himself wreaking havoc in India, single-handedly turning the Pune Test on its head. By the end, New Zealand achieved the unthinkable—a 3-0 clean sweep, the first time in history India suffered a series whitewash at home. With Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit, and mainstay Kohli facing the heat, the pressure cooker in the Indian camp was palpable.
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Now, Santner takes the reins as New Zealand’s captain for the white-ball series starting Saturday at Dambulla. Riding high on confidence, the Kiwis might feel like they’re on cloud nine, but Sri Lanka stand as the favourite here, and for good reason.
Sri Lanka have been on a roll at home this year, dropping only one series. With nine series wins across all formats in 2024, they’ve set a high bar, especially as some of these victories have come against higher-ranked sides. It’s been a purple patch for several Sri Lankan batsmen, including Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, who made history by scoring Sri Lanka’s first-ever double hundred in an ODI. Adding to the mix, wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis and captain Charith Asalanka have been in scintillating form.
To make matters worse for the Kiwis, they’ve arrived at Dambulla without several key players, rested for an upcoming home Test series against England. This absence of firepower tilts the scales even more in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Currently ranked fifth in ODIs and eighth in T20s, Sri Lanka have a golden opportunity to climb the rankings with series wins.
There was some deliberation about sending players like Kamindu, Kusal, Nissanka, and Asitha Fernando to South Africa early to acclimatize for the looming World Test Championship final spot. However, the selectors chose to retain them for the white-ball series to keep the momentum in limited-overs cricket, which has finally turned in Sri Lanka’s favour after years in the wilderness.
It’s been a banner year for Sri Lankan cricket, and keeping this winning streak alive could bring even bigger rewards. A berth in the World Test Championship final or a spot in the top four of either white-ball format by year’s end would be a dream come true.
Much of the credit goes to the selectors and Sri Lanka Cricket for their smart planning, along with Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been hands-on since he took charge. Several Sri Lankan players have climbed into the ICC top ten, with Nissanka among the elite in both ODIs and T20s. Asalanka and Kamindu have also made waves, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana have shone in white-ball cricket. Meanwhile, Prabath Jayasuriya has been nearly unstoppable in Tests.
All things considered, Sri Lankan cricket is on the cusp of something special, and the road ahead looks bright for the national team.
