"There's also a viral flu in the team" - Sanath Jayasuriya says multiple Sri Lankan players contracted it amid the IND vs SL series
Sri Lanka's interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has admitted the presence of a virus in the dressing room ahead of the ODI series against India, beginning in Colombo on Friday, August 2. The former captain revealed that multiple players had contracted it.
The Sri Lankan team has been struggling with injuries even before the preceding T20I series began. Ahead of the ODIs, the home side lost Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka to injuries.
Speaking at a presser ahead of the first ODI, Jayasuriya stated, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo:
"We have brought Pramod Madushan into our squad. There's also a viral flu in the team and we need to account for that. Maheesh Theekshana was sick and he recovered enough to play. Wanindu Hasaranga also had it. There were several who caught it and in the end, we even had to admit Binura Fernando to the hospital."
Sri Lanka are already reeling from a 3-0 defeat in the T20I series despite being in a position to dictate terms in all three matches. The third T20I, especially, going into a Super Over would hurt them the most.
"When I was playing, and even now, I hate to lose" - Sanath Jayasuriya
Despite admitting that his stay will be short-lived with the team, Jayasuriya said he is trying to have as much influence on the players and has given them the best facilities to work with.
"I'm interim coach and I've only got these two series, but that's not how I think. When I was playing, and even now, I hate to lose. The players who are around now know that too. When I talk to them, I tell them that fans in this country love the game, and a lot of us, including me, have brought cricket into this country to a certain place. I've spoken about that a lot individually with players and as a team. In terms of facilities and practice, I've tried to do as much as I can," he added in the same interaction.
Sri Lanka have also replaced Kusal Mendis as the ODI captain with Charith Asalanka.