Sri Lanka's Thilina Kandambi previews ICC T20 World Cup clash with Bangladesh

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Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandambi previews ICC T20 World Cup clash with Bangladesh Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas, USA

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00:00The batting approach in the first game against South Africa, I'm sure you had time to sit

00:11down and look back at it. How do you explain that approach?

00:15Yes, we had a good chat yesterday with the boys and they have realised the mistakes that

00:25they have done and also I think they are experienced enough to come back in this game. We've spoken

00:35about it, I mean a lot of things, how we're going to play up. The A game is not happening

00:43so how we transfer our mental approach for the B game. So we have spoken about it, I

00:50think the boys are pretty much up for it.

00:53Tomorrow is virtually a knockout game, are you sort of under tremendous pressure heading

00:57into tomorrow's game?

01:00Not so really because I think we have played good cricket against Bangladesh in the recent

01:07past. So we have that confidence and the momentum going through this game.

01:14The next game is a very crucial game for the Sri Lankan team. If the team is able to

01:20stay in the game, they will definitely be able to win this game. How do you see the

01:24mentality of the Sri Lankan cricketers and what is the intention of the Sri Lankan cricketers

01:27at this time?

01:28Yes, I think when we come to a game like this, we know that we will be faced with

01:35a lot of difficult situations. I know that this is not a game that we want to play, but

01:47we have spoken to a lot of experienced players in the team and they have told us what we

01:56have to do. We have a lot of things to do in terms of preparation and practice, but

02:04I think we have a good mentality. We have won a lot of games against Bangladesh in the

02:12past, so we are confident that we will go to the next game.

02:16We have seen that the Sri Lankan team has a strong desire to win this game. If you could

02:32say something about this desire, what kind of studies have you been able to do?

02:41Yes, I think we have won a lot of games against Rukwajan and we have won this game. I think

02:50it is better than a New York wicket, but we have faced a lot of used pitches. There is

03:00a challenge and we have spoken about it. We are well prepared for it.

03:06You have a chance to play against Sri Lanka after six days. Can you tell us a little

03:16about that practice session?

03:19I think we have not seen a big difference. It is difficult for us to take a big decision,

03:29but we have spoken about it. We have spoken a lot about what we have learned. We have

03:39had a good fielding session. We have given the batsmen an opportunity to gain their confidence

03:48and do what they need to do.

03:51In the recent past, Sri Lanka has not performed that well. Do you think Bangladesh could have

03:59some extra leverage or edge over Sri Lanka for this match?

04:04In the recent past, we played a couple of practice games and we lost the first game

04:13and the first match as well. Coming into this tournament, the previous bilateral series

04:21against Bangladesh, we won. Altogether, we played very good cricket there. With that

04:32confidence, I think the boys know what to do tomorrow. We have analysed their strengths

04:42and weaknesses as well. We have played each other more in the recent past. Because of

04:48that, I think the boys are confident enough.

04:53How is the team atmosphere?

04:57We have not decided yet. I think there will be a big difference.

05:02Sometimes, the players might change, but we have not decided yet.

05:16Sri Lanka is one of the mighty teams in the world of cricket, but this time your team

05:21started not well. How frustrating it is and what do you say about your team's condition?

05:28It's a matter of one game actually. We didn't bat well. We accept that. But the way our

05:33bowlers and the fielders fought back, defending such a small total in New York, which was

05:41fantastic. We also have the confidence with our boys. I'm sure the batters have played

05:49a lot of cricket, so they can bounce back at any time.

06:11Like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh is also not in good shape. Do you think that it will be an

06:17added advantage for you in the upcoming match you are going to play tomorrow?

06:22It's all about the process, I think. How we are going to approach the game from bowl

06:28one. That's what I said earlier also, that our boys are confident because we had a good

06:34series against Bangladesh recently. So we can take that confidence and move forward.

06:47Thank you.

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