T20 World Cup 2021: I Liked Sanath Jayasuriya And His Batting Style So, I Switched My Batting Style – Kusal Perera
Published - 28 Oct 2021, 09:53 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 08:27 PM
Star Sri Lanka opening batsman Kusal Perera has revealed that he liked Sanath Jayasuriya a lot and he wanted to bat like him so he switched his batting style.
Kusal Perera also said that changing the batting style from being a left-hand batsman to the right-hand batsman was initially a tough thing for him but he wanted to bat like Jayasuriya so he anyways did it and now he is very confident. In a video uploaded on the official T20 World Cup website, Perera asserted:
“In my childhood, I used to play as a right-handed batsman. But, obviously, I liked Sanath Jayasuriya and his batting style. So, I switched my batting style from right-handed to left-handed to bat like Jayasuriya. It was tough (initially) but, at the moment, I am very confident.”
Perera also said that he was a big fan of Jayasuriya’s cut short, the flick and pull and he doesn’t want to copy him but would love to play like him. The 31-year-old stated:
“At that time, (in the 90s) it was a trend – Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana opening the batting. The whole world was watching the way he (Sanath) was batting. I loved the way he played his cut short, the flick and pull. That’s all in my memory. I am not trying to copy him, but obviously, I like to play like him.”
It Is A Great Opportunity For Kusal Perera Batting At The Top Of The Order – Sri Lanka Batting Legend Mahela Jayawardene
The Legendary Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene who has been working with the Sri Lankan team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 as a consultant said that it is a great opportunity for Perera to bat at the top order and be the difference-maker. He stated:
“It is a great opportunity for him, batting at the top of the order, and being that difference in the team. A lot of the guys will react to how he goes about things. So yes, there is a little bit of added responsibility and pressure on him. But, good players always enjoy that kind of pressure.”
So far in the T20 World Cup 2021 Perera hasn’t lived up to expectations scoring only 45 runs at a strike rate of 125.
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