Tharanga pleads for patience ahead of India ODIs

COLOMBO: A day after Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dinesh Chandimal apologised for a 3-0 series whitewash against India, limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga has asked fans for patience ahead of their upcoming ODIs and Twenty20 matches.

Sri Lanka failed to challenge the world’s top-ranked test side during the three-match series and the gulf in quality between the two sides was clearly visible.They also suffered their maiden One-day International series loss to Zimbabwe last month, prompting long-serving captain Angelo Mathews to step down.

Sri Lanka next play five ODIs and a Twenty20 against the Virat Kohli-led India, starting on Sunday, which will be Tharanga’s first as full-time captain.“Every team goes through a rough patch,” Tharanga said in a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket. “This is something that happens in cycles to every team and every nation no matter how great a cricketing nation they are.”