"At the end of the day, we have beaten the Number 1 team in the world", Jayasuriya after Sri Lanka's historic win

The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo erupted with joy as Sri Lanka clinched a historic series victory over India, winning the second ODI by 110 runs and sealing the series 2-0. This triumph marked Sri Lanka's first series win against India in 27 years. Interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya couldn't hide his delight during the post-match interview, grinning from ear to ear as he praised his team's outstanding performance.

Despite being the underdogs following a 3-0 defeat in the T20I series and dealing with a slew of injuries in their pace attack, Sri Lanka defied expectations against the top-ranked ODI team. Jayasuriya expressed immense pride in how his young team fought back and overcame challenges to achieve this memorable victory.

Key performances and coaching strategies

Sri Lanka's resilience with the bat was evident throughout the series, a significant improvement from their repeated middle-order collapses in the T20I matches. Dunith Wellalage emerged as a key player, contributing 108 runs and taking seven wickets, playing a crucial role in the team's success. The Sri Lankan top order consistently provided strong starts, laying the foundation for victory.

Jayasuriya highlighted the positive impact of a seven-day coaching program led by Zubin Bharucha, Director of High Performance at Rajasthan Royals. Bharucha emphasized the importance of each batter playing a long innings to build confidence, a strategy that proved effective for the young team. Jayasuriya noted that this approach aligned perfectly with the players' needs and contributed to their improved performance.

"It was a very long wait because that series I played in 1997 and got a lot of runs in that series. That was the last series we won against India. After 27 years, I am part of the team and I am very happy to be part of these boys. They are a very nice bunch of players and are talented and the whole country would have seen what we can do.

"The boys went through a very, very hard time. Even during the T20 series we played well but the result was not what was expected. The players realised what went wrong when we came back to Colombo and they started to play well.", he added.

"We have been working with players like Wellalage, Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Asalanka, all are very young players. Hasaranga got injured and Vandersay has been there for a long time but never got the opportunity and when we gave the opportunity, he grabbed it with both hands," the coach said.

"I got Zubin from Rajasthan Royals and he came and did a seven day coaching programme. We learnt a lot, the players learnt a lot on how to bat long innings, and one batsman was batting 2-3 hours. That gave the batters a lot of confidence.

"The players only need confidence. If they get some runs on the board, if they are bowling well, if someone gets starts and gets big runs, so those are the little things they can get the confidence high. At the end of the day, we have beaten the Number 1 team in the world," he added. 

Future prospects and celebrations

Despite the historic achievement, Jayasuriya is set to return to his role as high performance manager after the tour of England. Sri Lanka is actively seeking a permanent head coach following Chris Silverwood's resignation in June after the T20 World Cup. Jayasuriya expressed his commitment to supporting Sri Lanka cricket and hopes that a new coach will continue to elevate the young team's success.

"We are looking for a coach at the moment," Jayasuriya stated. "I stepped in for two series: the India series and the England series. They will look for a coach, I'm there as an in-charge for high performance, but I will support Sri Lanka cricket. I must thank SLC; they have given everything possible for the players and our support staff. I hope they find a good coach to bring these youngsters to a higher level and continue the winning streak."

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While strategic decisions await in the SLC meeting rooms, the atmosphere on the field at Premadasa Stadium was one of celebration. Jayasuriya shared that the players were eager to return to the hotel to perform their victory dance, a testament to the joy and camaraderie within the team after their historic win.