Nidahas Trophy 2018: SWOT Analysis of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is hosting India and Bangladesh for a T20 series (Credits: AFP)

A resurgent Sri Lanka will be looking to continue their improved performance when they host India and Bangladesh in the tri-nation T20 series.  The year 2017 was anything but memorable for the Islanders.

They had suffered three 5-0 whitewashes in ODI cricket last year. They had also exited the Champions Trophy at the group stage and lost ODI series against Zimbabwe at home. And it looked 2018 will be the same as they started off the tri-nation competition in Bangladesh last month with defeats to Zimbabwe and the hosts. However, the team bounced back by winning the tri-nation finals before winning the Test and T20I series to complete a successful tour.

Nidahas Trophy 2018: SWOT Analysis of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka enjoyed a good tour of Bangladesh (Credits: AP)

The tri-series will get underway on March 6. The series is being played to mark 70 years of Sri Lanka’s independence. The series will have six games. All the six games will be played at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium (RPS) and will start at 7 PM local time.

With momentum on their side, Sri Lanka will be keen to come up with a good performance in the upcoming series.

Strength:

First of all, the familiarity with home conditions will be handy for Dinesh Chandimal & Co. Barring the recent times, Sri Lanka has been nothing less than a fortress for the Islanders.  Sri Lanka looked in ominous form during the T20Is against Bangladesh and thus won it 2-0. Their batting, which had looked like the weak link last year, fired on all cylinders in both the games.

In the first game, they had chased down 194 with more than three overs remaining. In the following game, they had scored 210. Almost every batsman had looked in good form as the Islanders had thoroughly dominated the series. The bowlers had also looked in good form. With the team in fine form, the hosts will be keen to continue their fine form. Moreover, with experienced Chandika Hathurusingha at the helm, Sri Lanka will be tough to beat in their backyard.

Weakness:

The lack of experience can hurt Sri Lanka’s chances in the upcoming series. The selectors ignored the experienced Lasith Malinga for the series while regular skipper Angelo Mathews is out of it due to injury. Niroshan Dickwella has also been axed after a prolonged dip in form.

Opportunity:

The upcoming series will be an opportunity for the hosts to avenge their loss at home last year. They had failed to win the home series against Bangladesh and had lost all the games against India. And they will be desperate to make amends for it with a good performance in the forthcoming series.

Threat:

While Sri Lanka are in good form right now, they need a herculean task to get the better of formidable India. Although, they have a golden opportunity to settle the scores with India since the Men in Blue will be without some of their key players including Virat Kohli.

Nidahas Trophy 2018: SWOT Analysis of Sri Lanka
Dhoni and Kohli are among the six regular players who have been rested for the series (Credits: BCCI)

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