India Are Favourites But Sri Lanka Have Been Playing Cricket Recently - Muttiah Muralitharan

Former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has claimed India to start as favourites in the upcoming ODI series in Colombo, starting Sunday. However, he also opined if the hosts have one advantage over the visitors, it is that of the experience of game time recently.

Sri Lanka had played international cricket in the last couple of months – all though they lost all the series. They have been on the road, first to Bangladesh where they lost 2-1 in ODIs; then to England where they couldn’t register a single win in 5 completed matches.

Indian players, on the other hand, last played in the IPL 2021 which was suspended in early May.

So, Muttiah Muralitharan feels that at least in the first ODI Sri Lanka can make the most of the nervousness of the Indian players.

“Only disadvantage I would say is they (India) have not played a game for a long time. Sri Lanka, somehow they have played some games, they didn’t perform well but still. When you play a game nerves and everything come.

“First match will be a tricky match for India because they have to get their A game to the play and if they miss, then they will doubt themselves a little bit. India are favorites but there is a sniff for Sri Lanka because they have been playing cricket recently,” Muttiah Muralitharan told ESPNcricinfo. 

Nobody should even think about this Indian team as a second strength: Muttiah Muralitharan

The legendary spinner also further banished the talks about the Indian outfit in Sri Lanka being a second-string team. He pointed out that the players are well experienced in the IPL, where they play in high-pressure situations against the best in the world.

“Because of IPL, they have got the strength, so many players can play in the national side. They have no fear because of playing in the IPL with the best of the best. They know how to perform in that. India has the strength that England has.

“Nobody should even think about this (Indian team) as a second strength (team) because these players have been performing,” the former spinner stated.

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