Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lankan all-rounder, has backed his country to seize what he believes is their best opportunity to defeat India in the upcoming Test series. Maharoof represented Sri Lanka across 139 matches, during which he scored 1,702 runs and claimed 167 wickets.
Speaking on the series, he emphasised that Sri Lanka rarely gets chances to beat India, whether playing at home or away. India have won the previous two Test series contested in Sri Lanka, triumphing in 2015 and 2017, with
their last Test defeat against Sri Lanka coming in 2008.
"This is their best chance to beat India at home because not on many occasions Sri Lanka has beaten India, be it at home or away," Maharoof told reporters ahead of the first Test in Galle.
He highlighted that Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva could enter the record books by leading his team to victory against India, particularly as Shubman Gill and Co. arrive with questions following their recent home series loss to South Africa.
Maharoof identified Dinesh Chandimal as the key figure in Sri Lanka's bid to upset India. Chandimal, a 92-Test veteran, holds an impressive record against India, having accumulated 750 runs across eight Tests and 16 innings at an average of 50.00. His tally includes two centuries and three fifties against the Indian bowling attack.
Chandimal's most memorable performance came in 2015 at Galle, where he scored an unbeaten 162 to help Sri Lanka secure victory by 63 runs. Maharoof stressed that Chandimal's experience and proven ability against India would be vital to Sri Lanka's chances in the series.
The former all-rounder noted that Chandimal, who will bat at number three, remains the most experienced player in the Sri Lankan lineup and carries the happy memories of his previous successes against Indian bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra.
"He is, I think, to bat at number three. He is the most experienced player and the former captain. The onus will be on him. I still remember this century, this third-inning hundred scored against likes of (Ravichandran) Ashwin, Amit Mishra. I think these are the happy memories he will carry into the match," Maharoof said.
"It is all about that one day, facing that one delivery. The concentration will be tested, not only for him, but for all batters in that humidity. Chandimal has played so much cricket, he knows what it takes to score against India. He is going to be an important cog in the wheel," he added.
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Maharoof urged Sri Lanka to show more fight and be consistent, especially in the absence of stalwart Angelo Mathews.
