’We have to take maximum advantage’

Sri Lanka should take maximum advantage of the absence of three India stars in their upcoming three-match Twenty20 series, interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya said.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the shortest format after India won the Twenty20 World Cup last month.

The T20s in the compact series are on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, all in Pallekele.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the best players in the world. Looking at their talent and the kind of cricket they have played, we all know where they belong, along with Jadeja,” Jayasuriya said.

“Their absence will be a loss to the Indian team, and we must take maximum advantage of that.”

Jayasuriya took over as interim coach after Chris Silverwood quit after Sri Lanka’s group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup.

Wanindu Hasaranga, who captained Sri Lanka in the tournament, has been replaced by Charith Asalanka.

Sri Lanka has called up Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando, who were not part of the World Cup squad, and uncapped allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who performed well in the Lanka Premier League.

Sri Lanka chief selector Upul Tharanga said fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, originally named in the 16-member squad, was ruled out of the T20 and one-day international series against India because of injury. A replacement will be named soon.

The three-match ODI series will be played on Aug. 2, 4 and 7, all in Colombo.