Debasis Sen, Colombo
Hashan Tillakaratne’s finest Test innings against India came in 2001, when he crafted a magnificent unbeaten 136 in the third Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. A key member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning squad, the former left-handed batter has since served in several coaching roles with Sri Lanka Cricket and the Bangladesh women’s team. After spending nearly 18 months in the United States as a cricket coach, Tillakaratne has returned to his hometown.
The 59-year-old caught up with this correspondent at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka. He spoke about how Jasprit Bumrah’s absence will be a huge setback for India, his admiration for Shubman Gill’s batting, the challenges current Indian batters face against quality spin, the impact of Kusal Mendis’ injury on Sri Lanka, and several other key talking points ahead of the series.
How big a setback is Jasprit Bumrah’s absence for India?
Hashan Tillakaratne: It’s certainly good news for Sri Lanka because we all know how skilful Bumrah is. I think he is one of the best bowlers in world cricket today. His absence gives Sri Lanka an advantage. That said, we cannot take India lightly. They still have some excellent players. Sri Lanka are coming into the series after a successful tour of the West Indies, and we have all the ingredients to go all the way. If we play to our potential, we can certainly be victorious.
Shubman Gill will lead India in a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time. How do you rate him as a batter?
Hashan Tillakaratne: I love watching him bat. He is technically very sound and plays beautifully on good batting tracks. This series will be a real test for him on turning pitches. It will be interesting to see how he performs in these conditions.
India also has the experienced KL Rahul. What are your thoughts on India’s batting unit overall?
Hashan Tillakaratne: We all know Indian batters are technically very sound and capable of adapting to different conditions. I played a lot of cricket against India, and from Sunil Gavaskar’s era onwards, Indian batting has always been technically strong. We respect them, but this is a new series with several new players. Experience is crucial when playing on turning tracks in Sri Lanka.
What kind of challenge will Prabath Jayasuriya and Sri Lanka’s spinners present?
Hashan Tillakaratne: Yes, we have seen that India has had some problems against quality spin on turning tracks. In both the New Zealand and South Africa series, they found it difficult. Apart from a few senior players, some members of this squad will be playing their first Test series in Sri Lanka. It’s never easy. If we prepare well, we have a very good chance because they do not have many experienced players in these conditions. Sri Lanka is one of the most difficult places in the world to play Test cricket. Much will depend on the pitches, but as a former Sri Lankan cricketer, I am backing my team.
Galle traditionally assists spin, although fast bowlers have also succeeded there. How do you assess the conditions?
Hashan Tillakaratne: Yes, Galle usually offers plenty of turn, but reverse swing can also become a major factor if the fast bowlers use the conditions well. Timing is very important. If you know when to introduce your seamers, reverse swing can be extremely effective. So, while spin will play a big role, fast bowlers can also make a significant impact.
Do you think Sri Lanka have enough quality spinners compared to previous generations?
Hashan Tillakaratne: Against a team like India, we cannot rely on part-time bowlers. We have to pick our best specialist spinners. Apart from Prabath Jayasuriya, we have a few good spin options. It all depends on the team combination. Whether we go with one fast bowler and three spinners or two seamers and two spinners, we must field our strongest bowling attack.
How big a setback would it be for the hosts if Kusal Mendis is unavailable?
Hashan Tillakaratne: Personally, I think he is our best batter at the moment. I hope he will recover in time for the Test series. If not, there are a few players who are ready to earn their Test caps.
Lahiru Udara has impressed since making his international debut and has been in great form in the ongoing Lanka Premier League. How do you see him as a prospect?
Hashan Tillakaratne: Lahiru is naturally gifted. He plays his shots with confidence, and scoring that big hundred against the West Indies has boosted him further. At the same time, we cannot underestimate Pathum Nissanka. He is another technically sound batter. Playing on turning pitches is always difficult. You need to know how to handle spin, rotate the strike and score consistently. Whichever team plays spin better will have a great chance of winning the series.
India also has quality spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja. How do you rate their spin attack?
Hashan Tillakaratne: As I said earlier, we cannot take India’s spinners lightly. Jadeja, in particular, can be very effective in Sri Lankan conditions because of his pace, variations and vast experience. On the other hand, Dinesh Chandimal has been our most consistent batter over the last few years and leads our batting unit. It should be a fascinating contest between the two sides.
Finally, one still remembers your magnificent 136 against India at the SSC, a Test in which Sri Lanka had four centurions.
Hashan Tillakaratne: That’s history now. We always enjoyed the challenge of playing against India because the contests were extremely competitive. Cricket has evolved, and we have to move with the times. I am really looking forward to this Test series.
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