3 Reasons Why Sri Lanka Are The Dark Horse in World Cup 2023

image-ln8v6lbjSri Lanka will be a force to reckon with in World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

When enquired about the top four teams to make the semi-finals, pundits and experts spot the names- Australia, India, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. On paper, they look commendable but if closely observed there could be another contender as well. And that is Sri Lanka, the underdog of this showpiece event. 

Sri Lanka have faced a turbulent period post-2014 but the current situation says- they're on the rise. They have defeated teams like Australia, England, India, and Pakistan in ODIs in the last three years. Moreover, the Dasun Shanaka-led unit were the Asia Cup winners in 2022, made the finals in 2023, and were also the champions in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier event cheld in Zimbabwe. 

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These above facts should be interesting enough to instill the idea of Sri Lanka as the unsung one in the tournament. But there are some more insights to back the bold heading of this space. And so, let us take a ride through the top three reasons why Sri Lanka are the dark horse in the World Cup 2023.


1.Condition favourable bowling attack

Sri Lankan bowlers are used to rub shoulders on their backyard and the Indian conditions are very much similar to their home. Despite the absence of ace spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, the Lankan side have a formidable spin unit that complements well with the pacers. The likes of Maheesh Theekshana will be leading the spin department and will look to spin his mystery around the oppositions. The likes of Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage will get perfect conditions to extract wickets on most venues. In addition, they may also include Dushan Hemantha to add extra sharpness in the spin community. 

In Indian conditions, one also require bowlers who can toil hard, get a bit of nibble with the new ball or rush with extra pace. Let us decode the following varieties citing examples that the Sri Lankan pace battery possess.

Bowler type
Pacer name
New ball bowler (RA)Kasun Rajitha
New ball bowler (LA)Dilshan Madushanka
Sheer pace Lahiru Kumara
Slog over specialistMatheesha Pathirana


2. Unsung batting department

The recent low score folding in the Asia Cup 2023 finals was a rare occasion in Sri Lanka's cricket history in the post-pandemic. They have undergone collapses but either the middle or lower middle order have gelled and formed a crucial stand on most occasions to avoid a low score all-out. And in recent times, this is even a rarer sight. The presence of Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva forged a four-pillar wall in their batting department. Either of the players step up at the need of the hour provided the top-order fails. 

Also, the opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne sound like a strong tag team on paper. The former is a consistent batter and has an average of 52.20 in ODIs in the 2022-23 season while Karunaratne averages 44.50 in the calendar year 2023 in ODIs.

In a nutshell, the batters have the knack of stepping up in crucial junctures of the game and helping the side get something to fight for.


3. Unity is Strength

To rise above turmoil, one needs courage, perseverance, and other special virtues. The current Sri Lankan team under the captaincy of Dasun Shanaka is the epitome of all those qualities. The side possesses individuals who execute as a group and nail the assignments kept in front. 

Yes, in sports, there will be a winner and a loser but the fighting spirit should never die. Such is the trait of the current Lankan unit. They have battled as a team against higher-ranked teams like New Zealand, Australia, India, Pakistan, etc., and even decimated them with sheer resilience on various stages of their timeline. 

Shanaka as a leader can regroup the side and lead the boys commendably. With answers to every question asked by the opposition, this is a side that can be termed under-rated for the coveted blockbuster event.