Sanath Jayasuriya publicly blasts Sri Lankan batsmen right before the ODI series vs India

Sri Lanka's interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was disappointed with his team's inability to finish off the game in the third T20I against India. Sri Lanka squandered a winning opportunity in the match and lost the game that they were so close to winning.

They first bowled well to reduce India to 137-9 to set themselves an achievable target. Despite a slow and tricky pitch, Sri Lanka was on course for their first victory of the series. They required just 9 runs off the last 2 overs with 6 wickets in hand and were the favorites to close out the game.

But they could score just 8 runs off the last 2 overs bowled by Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav and also lost 4 wickets. The match went into the Super Over where the Lankan batters once again tried to hit big shots against offspinner Washington Sundar.

But they found fielders in the deep and were dismissed for just 2 runs. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav hit the first ball of the Super Over for a four to finish off the game and seal the series for India 3-0.

Also read: Rohit Sharma denies any preparation by team India for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Sanath Jayasuriya blasts Sri Lankan batsmen for their poor show in the 3rd T20I against India

While speaking at the press conference ahead of the first ODI, Sanath Jayasuriya reckoned that the third T20I should have never got into the Super Over. He also spoke about the role of coaches in the team and mentioned that it's the team who has to handle the pressure.

"The third game should never have gone to a Super Over. As coaches, you can tell stuff but handling pressure is for those out in the middle. We are aware that part-time bowlers. had got those crucial wickets. It is disappointing," Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Jayasuriya also lamented Kusal Perera's inability to finish off the innings despite being set at the crease. Perera was Sri Lanka's top run-scorer in the match with 46 off 34 balls with 5 fours. Jayasuriya further asked his team to take the criticism and the responsibility for the defeat.

"We have to take the criticism" - Sanath Jayasuriya

"Kusal Perera from the middle had made a gesture to send a right-hander in. His intentions of letting us know that a right-hander was needed is correct. We were prepared for the routine batting line-up. But when the set batter sends a message you need to listen to that. I would have been happier had Kusal Perera finished it off," the 55-year-old said.

"It's disappointing as a coach, but we have to take the criticism as well, as a coach, as a support staff, as a team. We are taking the responsibility, you can't go away from that," the legendary allrounder added.

Sri Lanka have lost wickets in clusters in the first two games as well. They lost 9 wickets for 30 runs in the first game and 7 wickets for 31 runs in the second. In the third T20I, they were 110-1 at one stage but lost 7 wickets for 22 runs to be reduced to 132-8.