Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who was appointed an interim head coach for the upcoming home series against India, lamented the loss of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the visitors’ T20 set-up.

Sharma and Kohli, who lead the batting charts in the shortest format, called time on their glittering career after Team India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in Barbados. Jayasuriya believes that it will be a perfect chance for the island nation to capitalize on the duo’s absence during the three-match T20 series, starting July 27.

“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.”

The Sri Lanka T20 squad will be led by Charith Asalanka with the likes of veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal making a return to the side.

During the first training session with the Sri Lanka squad ahead of the much-awaited series, Jayasuriya disciplined the squad as he believes that cricket should be maintained as the gentlemen’s game.

“We did basic disciplining. We are expecting discipline in general, and I am only an interim coach during my tenure. I want that discipline,” said Jayasuriya. 

“Our cricket-loving public love these cricketers, and they are watching them and there are young cricketers who are looking up to senior cricketers. They like to learn from them. If they do well it would help the younger generation of cricketers as well. It was on this backdrop we introduced these changes. We want to maintain cricket as the gentlemen’s game,” he added.