(Source X)
Fans of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team likely felt let down and disheartened by their team’s loss in the ongoing three-match T20I series against India. Former cricketer-turned-broadcaster Farveez Maharoof echoed these sentiments, taking to social media to express his disappointment following India’s decisive seven-wicket victory in the second T20I on Sunday, July 28. Maharoof particularly highlighted the Sri Lankan team’s inability to maintain their strong start in the first two games against the formidable Men in Blue.
Farveez Maharoof expresses frustration over Sri Lanka’s disastrous collapse as India clinches the T20I series.
Sri Lanka’s ongoing T20I series against the reigning T20 World Cup champions has been marked by two consecutive disappointing collapses. The Islanders’ performance in the first T20I left both fans and cricket analysts deeply concerned about their ability to compete at the highest level.
The match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy started promisingly for Sri Lanka, showing resilience and skill in their batting lineup. However, what began as a hopeful innings quickly unraveled into despair. Despite a strong position at 140/2, the dismissal of Kusal Perera triggered a stunning collapse, with Sri Lanka losing their next nine wickets for just 30 runs. As a result, they succumbed to a 43-run defeat against Team India in the opening game of the three-match T20I series.
The second T20I, held just a day later at the same venue, presented another opportunity for redemption against the Men in Blue. However, Sri Lanka’s troubles persisted, with the team finding themselves in dire straits at 31/7 within five overs. Once again, the middle order and tailenders failed to provide the necessary support.
Despite an initial promising start, Sri Lanka once more faltered dramatically, losing seven wickets for just 31 runs in the final five overs, even after reaching a respectable 130/3 against India.
The Sri Lankan team’s failure to clinch the T20I series against India on their home turf stemmed from their inability to recover from crucial collapses, highlighting deeper issues within the squad. This raised significant concerns about their resilience and composure under pressure.
The team’s struggles to maintain momentum and capitalize on pivotal moments underscored a lack of mental strength among the players, resulting in disastrous outcomes that left fans and former cricketers deeply disappointed. Farveez Maharoof criticized the hosts for squandering strong starts against the Men in Blue.
Expressing his dismay on social media, Maharoof lamented the Sri Lankan team’s inability to capitalize on their early advantages in both the first and second T20Is against India. The former cricketer emphasized that these missed opportunities were crucial in potentially securing victory in the home T20I series against India.
Farveez Maharoof posted on X: “Collapses twice in 2 days just not good enough at international level. Wasting good opportunities to be in a strong position to beat the world champions. Awful feeling #slvind. 1st T20i – 30-9 in 6 overs; 2nd T20i – 31-7 in 5 overs.”
