For 12 years, Team India had gone without losing a Test on home turf until that streak was brutally ended by New Zealand in October 2024. In recent times, India has suffered a drastic dip in form in Test cricket, first losing 0-3 at home to New Zealand and then 1-3 away against Australia. In light of the situation, Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has stated that the current Indian side would be easy pickings for that great Sri Lankan side; India would possibly be routed at home in three days.
Ranatunga expressed that the current Indian batting lineup would not stand up against a bowler of the caliber of Chaminda Vaas or Muttiah Muralitharan.
“With bowlers like (Chaminda) Vaas and Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan), I say that the team of mine would have beaten India here in three days,” said Ranatunga, as reported by The Telegraph.
The Indian team has recently seen a massive downfall in Test cricket, calling into question the management under Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
In particular, the Indian batting-Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in particular-has come under severe scrutiny, both averaging in the 20s in Test cricket in 2024.
Ranatunga was equally gracious in comparison to the current Sri Lankan team, asserting that they are nearly at par with his generation.
“This current Sri Lanka team is as good as many others from my time. There are a lot of talented players in this current team. Of course, if you glance at it again, among the 1996 players, Aravinda would have been a few notches above this team,” Ranatunga added.
“The real problem lies with SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket board). It is the politics of the board that surrounds management corruption and the very root cause for all problems,” he said.
India, after suffering two humiliating series defeats, was forced to slip away from the chase of a World Test Championship (WTC) final; Sri Lanka being conclusively obliterated by South Africa and Australia in their last four Test matches were at sixth place in the points table.
Ranatunga also advised Virat Kohli to get back into form.
“Kohli should talk to people like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar or a Rahul Dravid .That’s the way he can go about it. They can certainly help him out,” Ranatunga suggested.
The Champions Trophy will be played in pakistan, beginning February 19. Sri Lanka finished ninth in the World Cup table, failing to qualify for the tournament.
