Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka expressed optimism for a competitive match against India in their final Super Four game of the Asia Cup in Dubai, despite his team’s elimination from the tournament. Speaking ahead of the dead rubber match, Shanaka emphasized that Sri Lanka still has a point to prove before the T20 World Cup next year, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host.India has already secured their spot in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, while Sri Lanka was eliminated after two losses in the Super Four stage following an unbeaten run in the group phase.“The best opponent in the tournament. We are looking for a fine match and need to prove a point. We are still good enough, but unfortunately out. But we’ve got a World Cup coming up, so this is a good clash against India. So, the boys have got a point to prove in this competition before leaving Dubai,” Shanaka told ANI.Shanaka has demonstrated consistent performance against India in T20Is, scoring 430 runs in 22 innings at an average of 26.87, with two fifties and a strike rate above 140. His highest score remains an unbeaten 74.The Sri Lankan all-rounder praised India’s dominance in T20 cricket over the past decade and acknowledged their system’s effectiveness. He specifically mentioned Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav as a “big match player” despite his current form.“Yeah, see, I like the way SKY (Suryakumar) plays. He has not scored many runs in this competition. But you know, he is a big match player and with the bowling, of course, Jasprit Bumrah,” Shanaka stated.Suryakumar has struggled in the tournament, scoring only 59 runs in four innings, with his highest being 47 not out against Pakistan. His 2023 performance has been particularly challenging, with just 87 runs in nine innings at an average of 12.42 and a strike rate of 112.98.Shanaka also commended Abhishek Sharma‘s performance, noting, “Abhishek Sharma in his prime form from IPL. So yeah, really happy for him.”Abhishek Sharma leads the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 248 runs in five innings, averaging 49.60 with a strike rate of 206.66. He needs just 34 runs to surpass Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan’s record for the highest runs in a T20I Asia Cup.Sharma’s overall T20 performance in 2023 has been impressive, accumulating 966 runs in 23 innings at an average of 42, maintaining a strike rate above 203, with two centuries and five fifties.The Sri Lanka squad includes Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Dunith Wellalage, Kamil Mishara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Binura Fernando, and Janith Liyanage.India’s squad comprises Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma.
