Sri Lanka vs India: Second-string Indian team tour SL an insult: Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga’s thoughts on series ahead: Sri Lanka will be taking on India in 10 days time for the three-match T20I series, followed up by the three-match ODI series as well. However, former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga was not impressed with India opting for ‘second string’ players for the upcoming series.

The first team players of Team India are currently in the United Kingdom as they just got done with the WTC Final, and will be up against hosts England in August. As a result of that, the BCCI made the decision of selecting some fresh faces under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid for Sri Lanka.

“Insult on our cricket” says Ranatunga

Arjuna Ranatunga isn’t clearly having any of it, and even blamed the Sri Lankan Cricket Administration for giving the series a green-light due to “television marketing needs”.

“This is a second-string Indian team and their coming here is an insult on our cricket. I blame the current administration for agreeing to play with them due to television marketing needs. India sent their best team to England and sent a weaker side to play here. I blame our board for that.”

Sri Lanka vs India: Team India Squad

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-captain), Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya

What does the #SLvIND limited-overs series mean for everyone involved with the Indian team? ?

Here's what Rahul Dravid – #TeamIndia Head Coach for the Sri Lanka series – has to say ? ? pic.twitter.com/ObUgFdhStj

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 27, 2021

Sri Lanka in England

The Sri Lankan team is also currently in England and are taking part in a three-match ODI series versus the hosts. England have won both ODIs and have claimed the series in the process. This will be of big disappointment for the Lankans, as they got whitewashed in the T20Is as well.