ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Sri Lanka can beat India, feels Dhananjaya de Silva

Dhananjaya de Silva of Sri Lanka takes a catch during Asia Cup 2018 Group B match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, UAE on Sept 15, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)


Sri Lanka spinner Dhananjaya de Silva is eyeing to unsteady the Indian juggernaut in their final group stage match to end on the fifth spot in the points table of the ongoing World Cup.

Sri Lanka, who have not had a pleasant outing so far, registered a thrilling 23-run victory over the West Indies on Monday, just four days after they were beaten by nine wickets on the same ground by South Africa.

This was Sri Lanka’s third victory in the tournament. Though they are already out of the race for the semi-finals, they believe they can upset India in their encounter on 6 July at Headingley in Leeds.

“We’ve done well against India in other ICC tournaments and we’ve just beaten West Indies so if we can take that confidence and momentum into the next game then we can beat India again,” de Silva was quoted as saying by the ICC.

“We’re trying hard to win every game and if we beat India then we can finish fifth.”

It is worth mentioning that Sri Lanka have won only one of their last eight ODIs against India but they did beat them by seven wickets in the Champions Trophy in 2017.

The 27-year-old off-spinner admitted that his side has nothing to lose against the Men in Blue — who are one of the favourites to lift the trophy.