The ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup has very few links, dating back to the last time the tournament was held in the subcontinent. India’s Virat Kohli and R Ashwin were both part of the MS-Dhoni-led unit which won the tournament 12 years ago.
On Thursday, those watching at home and around the world might get to see another link from that World Cup in Bengaluru. Angelo Mathews was not included in Sri Lanka’s initial World Cup squad, but finds himself coming in after paceman Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out of the tournament.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the 36-year-old said that he may not find it too hard to settle in with the rest of the group and he is more mature now, as compared to when he was younger.
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“I’ve probably seen it all over the last 15 years, so it’s quite easy for me to sort of focus on what I have to do rather than getting too affected by what’s happening around me because cricket has taught me so much over the years,” said Mathews
“And then now I’m, I would say, a little more mature than who I was before to sort of shut down the things which I have to and then focus on what I have to focus on,” he added.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity. This marks my fourth fifty-over World Cup match. Our team and I are committed to giving our best performance, with the primary goal of reaching the semifinals. I’m fully prepared to put in the hard work necessary to achieve this,” the veteran stated further.
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If Mathews is picked in Sri Lanka’s playing XI on Thursday, it will be a role reversal, of sorts, for him under stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis. In July 2016, Mendis made his ODI debut under Mathews’ captaincy and there is a chance that the latter will play under the former on Thursday.
“Kusal, when I saw him first, he was still a damn good player. And he’s evolved so much over the last five, six years. And now he’s showing his maturity playing fearless cricket, leading from the front. And yes, I mean, playing under him, I’ve played under so many different captains and they’ve also played under me, so, it’s a cycle.”
“So, playing under Kusal, where he started when I was the captain, it gives me pleasure because he’s come a long way and I’ve seen him grow as a person and also as a batsman over the years which is very fantastic to see,” Mathews said.
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