COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 24 (AP): 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 on Wednesday.
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 have to take maximum advantage out 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Wanindu Hasaranga, who captained Sri Lanka in the tournament, has been replaced by Charith Asalanka.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, along with 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 and a replacement will be named soon.
The three-match ODI series will be played on August 02, 04 and 07, all in Colombo.
Sri Lankan fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of the India series, which begins on July 27, with an injury. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board will name a replacement shortly.
Known for his raw pace and the ability to rush batters off the surface, the 32 year-old Chameera has picked up 55 wickets in T20Is for Sri Lanka in as many games at an economy hovering around 8.09.
