PAK vs SL: Gautam Gambhir Criticises Dhananjaya de Silva's Shot Selection After Latter Throwing His Wicket Against India
Updated - 13 Sep 2023, 02:06 PM
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Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir criticized Sri Lanka’s all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva’s shot selection against India in the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2023. Gautam Gambhir emphasized that the senior batters wouldn’t throw their wickets in crucial situations.
The Dasun Shanaka-led team suffered a 41-run loss at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, September 12. The Sri Lanka team failed to chase down a target of 214 runs to confirm their final berth and were bundled out for 172 runs in the second Super Four game.
He Would Be Extremely Disappointed – Gautam Gambhir
Speaking to Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir emphasized that top teams don’t allow the opposition to make a comeback in such situations because they have players who don’t give away opportunities.
“Apart from it being a turning point, he would be extremely disappointed. You don’t expect such a shot from Dhananjaya de Silva, who is an experienced player. This is the difference between a good and a great player. A great player wouldn’t have played such a shot and left you on someone else’s shoulders,” Gambhir said.
“They (great players) themselves leave after scoring the last run. This is the difference between being a top team and a team trying to become one. India are a top team because they have players who don’t give such opportunities,” he added.
De Silva and Dunith Wellalage formed a crucial 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket, rescuing Sri Lanka from a difficult position at 99/6. However, Silva’s dismissal gave India a chance to make a comeback. India grabbed the last three wickets for only 10 runs.
It Would Have Become Difficult For India – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir emphasized that Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage had done the hard work and put Sri Lanka in a favorable position. He said that the duo could have put immense pressure on India if they had added more runs.
“The way Wellalage was batting, if you had scored 20 or 25 more runs from there, India might have been under immense pressure. You had put in the effort. You had done the difficult task.”
“If you had converted the 41 runs you scored into 60 or 65 and Wellalage was scoring runs from the other end, it would have become difficult for India,” he concluded.
The Lankan Lions will face the Babar Azam-led team in their next match at the same venue on Thursday, September 14. The winner of the match will advance to the final of the continental tournament, joining India, who have already secured their place in the final.
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Asia Cup 2023 Dhananjaya de Silva Dunith Wellalage Gautam Gambhir IND vs SL 2023 India vs Sri Lanka 2023 Sri Lanka national cricket team
