Sri Lankan Captaincy has been a game of musical chairs over the last decade. After having influential figures like Arjuna Ranathunga, Sri Lanka has struggled to find the right option following Kumar Sangakkara's resignation after 2011. TM Dilshan and Mahela Jayawerdene had their goes, but both knew it was temporary with the search for a new captain on. Sri Lanka went through eleven captains in ODIs and ten in T20Is after Dilshan and Sangakkara finished their turns. The search for a new leadership group looked promising with Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal stepping up. We all know how that went though. Angelo Mathews, promised to be the next big all-rounder could not maintain his fitness and Dinesh Chandimal could not stay consistent and adapt to the changing nature of the white-ball game.

In between, Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Thisara Perera had their brief stints as well. Angelo Mathews was called upon again after being sacked once, but was once more put aside. In ODIs, Dimuth Karunaratne looked like he could have a fair stint. He was doing well with the Test side but with numbers not as good he was cast aside in white-ball cricket too. Finally, Sri Lanka found brief stability in Dasun Shanka. Shanaka though had his problems with contributing as well. While Sri Lanka had some famous moments under him, his own form took a hit towards the end.

The constant chopping and changing has since been a featuer in the Sri Lankan camp. Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka's biggeat superstar at the moment was given a brief go. His time hasn't been the longest but Hasaranga feels like he isn't the one as well depleting their options even further. With him going out, Charith Asalanka, one of the few regulars in the side was put into the cauldron. His success in T20Is saw him take ODI captaincy as well. Early sighters give some confidence. After Rangana Herath, he looks like the next one who is very calm, and he has teh credentials as well having led his side to the Lanka Premier League title recently.

Numbers wise too, Charith Asalanka has silently been one of the most consistent batters at number five in the World. He has consistently contributed with key 30s and 40s, taking games deep and proving to be a point of difference in the Sri Lankan line-up. Is his calmness what Sri Lanka need now. With the line-up taking so many changes, someone like Asalanka, who also has age on his side could help bring consistency. While Sri Lanka has a good 20 names to make the squad, the constant chopping and changing along with injuries has led to a lot of confusion in role clarity, which needs to be fixed. A series in, Charith Asalanka has taken the ODI series against India, without some of his main bowlers like Wanindu Hasaranga.

Looking at the names he has some really good people by his side. Kusal Mendis at the top, along with Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka in the middle help him find firepower and experience. Kamindu Mendis has also cemented himself in the middle. With the ball too the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, Sri Lanka has the experience again. Sri Lankan captaincy though continues to be a funny place. It has changed careers, started downfalls, ended careers and created some incredible chaos. The start though has been bright. A series win with India for the first time since 1997 will give him and Sri Lanka a lot of momentum.