Arnold: Right call not to send Nissanka in Super Over

September 27, 2025 at 3:46 AM

Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign came to an early end after three consecutive defeats in the Super Four stage, despite winning all three Group B games.

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Russel Arnold, speaking to Newswire, said the turning point came after the opening defeat to Bangladesh. “Once that first game was lost, our outlook and intensity shifted. But watching Pathum Nissanka and the team fight today shows that this team has ability. The question is how we maintain that consistency,” Arnold said.

Arnold highlighted Sri Lanka’s recurring challenge of handling pressure situations. “We win a lot of dead rubbers. When there’s no pressure, we play our shots freely. But once the stakes are high, dot balls creep in, batters panic, and the mindset changes. That is where we need polish. Against bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, you can’t afford to lose focus.”

Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya revealed at the post-match press conference that Nissanka played through a groin and hamstring injury.

On Nissanka’s innings under those conditions, Arnold drew comparisons with Glenn Maxwell’s injured double hundred against Afghanistan. “Even with a niggle, Pathum played some outstanding shots. It reminded me of Maxwell playing through pain. He trusted his base, timed the ball well, and showed the freedom that comes when a batter backs his skills.”

Arnold also defended the team’s call to leave Nissanka out of the Super Over. “That was the right decision. He had batted long with an injury, and physically and mentally it would have been too much to expect him to walk straight back out for such a high-pressure moment,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Arnold urged Sri Lanka to focus on fine-tuning rather than wholesale changes. “Our best players are here. It’s not about massive shake-ups. It’s the little things — the missed fields, the pressure management, giving the strike to the set batter — that make the difference between winning and losing. Fix those, and this team will compete consistently against the best.” (Newswire)