Exclusive: Enjoy watching Virat bat, says former Sri Lankan legend

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Former Sri Lanka skipper Aravinda de Silva at Colombo to watch the second Test match between Sri Lanka and India. Image Source: XtraTime

Debasis Sen, Colombo: Former Sri Lanka Captain Aravinda de Silva feel Virat Kohli can go on to break all the records in International cricket. According to Mad Max (nickname of Aravinda) the key for Virat will be to sustain the rigours of world cricket as the players now are involved in too much cricket. De Silva who was at the Sinhalse Sports Club ground yesterday after returning from London couple of days back, chose to give an exclusive interview to xtratime.in. Here are the excerpts:

XT: You were at the ground yesterday to witness the brilliant partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kushal Mendis. But that did not stop the Sri Lankans losing the series as they were outplayed comprehensively in all departments by the Indians. What is your assessment about the current state of Sri Lanka cricket?

Aravinda: Well I haven’t been watching the team play of late. I just returned back home from UK couple of days back. I just saw the match yesterday and today.

XT: What do you make out of the series loss and also the fact that they have not been doing well in recent times?

Aravinda: They (Sri Lanka Cricket) need to have a proper plan and start developing these players and give them more exposures. We need to develop some bowlers who can go through the opposition batting in the future.

XT: How disappointing or rather how hurting is it for you personally to see Sri Lanka not doing well in recent times?

Aravinda: Well it is very saddening to see Sri Lanka not winning but I think we need to seriously sit down and formulate a plan so as to take the cricket in the right direction. We need to have long term plans with a short term remedy. The decision has to be taken with a long term view.

XT: Personally speaking, what would be your suggestion to the administrators who are running the game now, considering you have good understanding with Mr Thilan Sumathipala.

Aravinda: Well, they need to give these guys confidence. You cannot entertain chopping and changing too much after every series loss. We must give them a decent run and also groom the future players that have the potential. Giving them confidence is very important which is lacking at the moment.

XT: What do you make out of the current group?

Aravinda: There is a huge amount of talent I can say. There is no dearth of talent in Sri Lanka. Just that we need to make sure that they nurture the talent properly. That is what we need to do. Hope the officials stick with the guys who they believe in and give them a decent run for the future.

XT: What does the younger generation of cricketers need to do?

Aravinda: Well the kind of aggression you need when you are an underdog like how Mendis batted in this test must be appreciated. You just need to go out there and play fear less cricket. That is what is important. I hope the younger generation is able to do that consistently in the future. Like what happened with India after Kapil Dev lead the country to the World Cup win in 1983.

XT: Yesterday Karunaratne admitted that lack of first class cricket is ruining the game here. Do you agree or you would say the focus on Provincial cricket is ruining club cricket which was the back bone of cricket in these parts?

Aravinda: I don’t think that is the issue. If you look at world cricket today there is so much of cricket being played. There is a huge gap between the standard of first class cricket and test cricket everywhere you play. It is not only restricted to Sri Lanka. I think at the end of the day how you nurture the talent and give them confidence is important. If that doesn’t happen there won’t be any talents coming up.

XT: Does Virat Kohli remind you about your playing days, especially some of the shots like the back foot punch, the flicks that he plays?

Aravinda: Every time I find time I sit and watch him play, because he (Virat) is a guy who I enjoy batting. So, obviously after Sunil and Sachin, India is fortunate to have a player like him.

XT: What has been the greatest attributes of Virat’s game?  

Aravinda: What I like about Virat is his confidence and aggression. It’s the way he approaches his game, and also his arrogance and confidence. I think he reminds me a lot of some of the past greats like Viv (Richards). The way he took on the mighty Australians in Australia was something very special.  Like, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and then Sachin Tendulkar, who all changed the complexion of Indian cricket, Kohli has it in him to take Indian cricket to a different level.

XT: Do you feel he (Kohli) can go on to break all the batting records in world cricket?

Aravinda: Well, he has got the potential to do so but a lot depends on the amount of cricket being played nowadays whether he will be able to go through without much injury. Sachin had done wonderfully well for India. Sunil set a standard which Sachin followed and now it will be up to Virat to match those standards.

XT: Can you take us back to the innings that you played against India in the 1996 World Cup semi finals at Eden Gardens?

Aravinda: Well it is too long ago to be in my memory. But obviously that was a great team effort and I still enjoy watching the highlights. The win against India in the semi finals was something very special which I will cherish forever in my life.