Bumrah’s absence gives Sri Lanka an advantage: Hashan Tillakaratne

Debasis Sen, Colombo

Hashan Tillakaratne’s finest Test innings against India came in 2001, when he crafted a magnificent unbeaten 136 in the third Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. A key member of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning squad, the former left-handed batter has since served in several coaching roles with Sri Lanka Cricket and the Bangladesh women’s team. After spending nearly 18 months in the United States as a cricket coach, Tillakaratne has returned to his hometown. sports24.club

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The 59-year-old caught up with this correspondent at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka. He spoke about how Jasprit Bumrah’s absence will be a huge setback for India, his admiration for Shubman Gill’s batting, the challenges current Indian batters face against quality spin, the impact of Kusal Mendis’ injury on Sri Lanka, and several other key talking points ahead of the series.

How big a setback is Jasprit Bumrah’s absence for India?

Hashan Tillakaratne: It’s certainly good news for Sri Lanka because we all know how skilful Bumrah is. I think he is one of the best bowlers in world cricket today. His absence gives Sri Lanka an advantage. That said, we cannot take India lightly. They still have some excellent players. Sri Lanka are coming into the series after a successful tour of the West Indies, and we have all the ingredients to go all the way. If we play to our potential, we can certainly be victorious.

Shubman Gill will lead India in a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time. How do you rate him as a batter?

Hashan Tillakaratne: I love watching him bat. He is technically very sound and plays beautifully on good batting tracks. This series will be a real test for him on turning pitches. It will be interesting to see how he performs in these conditions.

India also has the experienced KL Rahul. What are your thoughts on India’s batting unit overall?

Hashan Tillakaratne: We all know Indian batters are technically very sound and capable of adapting to different conditions. I played a lot of cricket against India, and from Sunil Gavaskar’s era onwards, Indian batting has always been technically strong. We respect them, but this is a new series with several new players. Experience is crucial when playing on turning tracks in Sri Lanka.

What kind of challenge will Prabath Jayasuriya and Sri Lanka’s spinners present?

Hashan Tillakaratne: Yes, we have seen that India has had some problems against quality spin on turning tracks. In both the New Zealand and South Africa series, they found it difficult. Apart from a few senior players, some members of this squad will be playing their first Test series in Sri Lanka. It’s never easy. If we prepare well, we have a very good chance because they do not have many experienced players in these conditions. Sri Lanka is one of the most difficult places in the world to play Test cricket. Much will depend on the pitches, but as a former Sri Lankan cricketer, I am backing my team.

Galle traditionally assists spin, although fast bowlers have also succeeded there. How do you assess the conditions?

Hashan Tillakaratne: Yes, Galle usually offers plenty of turn, but reverse swing can also become a major factor if the fast bowlers use the conditions well. Timing is very important. If you know when to introduce your seamers, reverse swing can be extremely effective. So, while spin will play a big role, fast bowlers can also make a significant impact.

Do you think Sri Lanka have enough quality spinners compared to previous generations?

Hashan Tillakaratne: Against a team like India, we cannot rely on part-time bowlers. We have to pick our best specialist spinners. Apart from Prabath Jayasuriya, we have a few good spin options. It all depends on the team combination. Whether we go with one fast bowler and three spinners or two seamers and two spinners, we must field our strongest bowling attack.

How big a setback would it be for the hosts if Kusal Mendis is unavailable?

Hashan Tillakaratne: Personally, I think he is our best batter at the moment. I hope he will recover in time for the Test series. If not, there are a few players who are ready to earn their Test caps.

Lahiru Udara has impressed since making his international debut and has been in great form in the ongoing Lanka Premier League. How do you see him as a prospect?

Hashan Tillakaratne: Lahiru is naturally gifted. He plays his shots with confidence, and scoring that big hundred against the West Indies has boosted him further. At the same time, we cannot underestimate Pathum Nissanka. He is another technically sound batter. Playing on turning pitches is always difficult. You need to know how to handle spin, rotate the strike and score consistently. Whichever team plays spin better will have a great chance of winning the series.

India also has quality spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja. How do you rate their spin attack?

Hashan Tillakaratne: As I said earlier, we cannot take India’s spinners lightly. Jadeja, in particular, can be very effective in Sri Lankan conditions because of his pace, variations and vast experience. On the other hand, Dinesh Chandimal has been our most consistent batter over the last few years and leads our batting unit. It should be a fascinating contest between the two sides.

Finally, one still remembers your magnificent 136 against India at the SSC, a Test in which Sri Lanka had four centurions.

Hashan Tillakaratne: That’s history now. We always enjoyed the challenge of playing against India because the contests were extremely competitive. Cricket has evolved, and we have to move with the times. I am really looking forward to this Test series.

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BRP Vs SRL Match Prediction: The Hundred Men’s 2026 will be the sixth season of this unique tournament. Nowhere else in the world do we see a top-level cricket competition that deviates from the game’s standard formats. But here, rather than each team playing 10 or 20 overs, both innings last for just 100 deliveries.

The Birmingham Phoenix, across the men’s and the women’s The Hundred, have never lifted a title. In the Men’s competition, they have finished in the top three on two occasions, including a trip to the final in the inaugural 2021 season. In 2025, they finished fifth on the points table.

The Phoenix had a strong performance in their first game, scoring over 200 runs and defeating the Trent Rockets. Then, in their second game, they were thrashed by the Manchester Super Giants. Their third game saw them lose a low-scoring affair to the Southern Braves, before they lost to the Welsh Fire in their fourth.

In their fifth game, the Birmingham-based side lost to the Trent Rockets to make it four defeats in a row. With four losses, one win, four points, and the worst net run rate in the league, the Phoenix are at the bottom of the points table.

On the other hand, Sunrisers Leeds, formerly known as the Northern Superchargers, have never won The Hundred Men’s. They finished third in 2025, reaching the Eliminator, where they lost to the Trent Rockets. They are, however, the defending champions in the Women’s tournament.

In their opening game of the season, the Sunrisers were thoroughly defeated by MI London. They bounced back with a win over the Southern Brave in their second game. They won their third game against the Manchester Super Giants before losing to the Trent Rockets in their fourth.

SRL’s second half of the season started with a solid victory over the London Spirit. With three wins, two losses, 12 points, and a positive net run rate, the Sunrisers are currently fifth on the points table.

BRP Vs SRL Match Prediction Date and Time:

• Date: Friday, August 07, 2026
• Time: 11:00 PM (IST); 06:30 PM (local time)
• Venue: Edgbaston, Leeds

BRP Vs SRL Live Streaming: How To Watch

The Birmingham Phoenix Vs Sunrisers Phoenix Match 24 of the 2026 The Hundred Men’s 2026 will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network on TV in India. It will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website on mobiles, laptops, and other streaming devices.

BRP Vs SRL Team; Full Squads:

Birmingham Phoenix Full Squads:

Donoivan Ferreira (C)(wk), Joe Clarke (wk), Will Smeed, Sean Dickson, Laurie Evans, Matthew Montgomery, Mitchell Owen, Jordan Thompson, Scott Currie, Rehan Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Chris Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Helm

Sunrisers Phoenix Full Squads:

Zak Crawley (C), Harry Brook, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tom Alsop (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Benny Howell, Dan Lawrence, Tom Lawes, Matthew Revis, Liam Patterson-White, Ed Bernard, Charlie Allison, Abrar Ahmed, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis, Reece Topley, Matthew Potts

Birmingham Phoenix Vs Sunrisers Phoenix Prediction T20Is: Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 05
• Birmingham Phoenix Won: 02
• Sunrisers Phoenix Won: 02
• No Result: 01
• First Played: August 17, 2021 (BRP win)
• Last Played: August 15, 2025 (SRL win)

BRP Vs SRL Toss Update

*To be updated after the toss*

BRP Vs SRL Team; Predicted XIs:

Birmingham Phoenix Predicted XI:

Will Smeed, Mitchell Owen, Joe Clarke (wk), Laurie Evans, Rehan Ahmed, Donovan Ferreira (C), Sean Dickson, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Usman Tariq

Sunrisers Phoenix Predicted XI:

Mitchell Marsh, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Harry Brook, Zak Crawley (C), Dan Lawrence, Matthew Revis, Brydon Carse, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Potts, Reece Topley, Abrar Ahmed

BRP Vs SRL Match 24 The Hundred Men’s 2026 Edgbaston Pitch Report

The pitches at Edgbaston on most days are bowling-friendly in a way that most pitches in the UK are. The pace bowlers get a lot of support in the first innings, making batting difficult for the opening batters. However, the surface here remains grassy and conducive to fast bowling throughout a T20 match. However, there are a couple of pitches here that are more batting-friendly, but this stadium is considered a haven for pacers on most days. As for the boundary dimensions, they certainly do help the batters. The square boundaries are quite small here, about 62-65m in length. The straight boundaries are a little longer, only about 68-70m.

BRP Vs SRL Match 24 Weather Forecast

It will be a fine evening to play cricket in Birmingham on the day of the match. The skies will be clear, with no chance of rain. The temperatures will be in the mid-10s. The winds will be moderate, and so will be the humidity.

BRP Vs SRL Match 24 The Hundred Men’s 2026 Match Sunrisers Phoenix Prediction: 3 Players To Watch Out For

The 3 players to watch out for in the BRP Vs SRL 2026 The Hundred Men’s 2026 Match 24 are:

• Sunrisers Phoenix all-rounder Mitchell Marsh
• Birmingham Phoenix wicketkeeper/batter Joe Clarke
• Sunrisers Phoenix wicketkeeper/batter Ryan Rickelton

Birmingham Phoenix Vs Sunrisers Phoenix Prediction: Who Will Win Today’s Match 24?

For the BRP Vs SRL 2026 The Hundred Men’s 2026 Match 24 Prediction, Sunrisers Phoenix will defeat Birmingham Phoenix in Match 24 of The Hundred Men’s 2026.

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Bodoland FC bounced back from their opening defeat with an emphatic 3-0 victory over FC1 in a Group F clash of the Durand Cup at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday.

Robinson Rendon opened the scoring before second-half substitutes Rituraj Mohan and Aron Thapa added late goals to secure Bodoland’s first win of the tournament.

Before kick-off, FC1 captain Ikhlaq Fayaz presented a sapling to Bodoland skipper Halicharan Narzary as part of the club’s water conservation and climate awareness initiative during its debut Durand Cup campaign.

Second-Half Surge Seals Comfortable Victory

After missing two earlier opportunities, Rendon finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, heading home from Narzary’s cross to give Bodoland the lead.

Head coach Vikash Panthi’s tactical changes proved decisive as substitutes Mohan and Thapa struck in the 78th and 82nd minutes respectively, turning a narrow advantage into a convincing win.

Group F Race Remains Wide Open

The victory lifts Bodoland FC to three points from two matches, keeping them firmly in contention despite carrying a negative goal difference following their heavy opening defeat to NorthEast United.

FC1 also remain on three points after two games, occupying second place ahead of Bodoland on goal difference thanks to their opening-match victory.

NorthEast United continue to lead Group F unbeaten, while Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC are still searching for their first points of the campaign.

The post Bodoland FC Cruise Past FC1 In Durand Cup appeared first on SSI FANZINE.

Pakistan have been placed in Pool B for the men’s hockey competition at the 20th Asian Games 2026, where they will face China, Malaysia, Oman, Thailand and Uzbekistan in the group stage, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said on Thursday.

The hockey tournament, organised under the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), will be held from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3 in Gifu, Japan, as part of the continental multi-sport event.

Pakistan will begin their campaign on Sept. 20 against Thailand before taking on Uzbekistan two days later. They will then face China on Sept. 24, followed by matches against Malaysia on Sept. 26 and Oman on Sept. 28.

The top teams from the group stage will advance to the knockout rounds, with Pakistan aiming to mount a strong challenge in a tournament where they have historically enjoyed considerable success.

Pool A features hosts Japan alongside traditional rivals South Korea and India, as well as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The Asian Games have long been a significant competition for Pakistan hockey, with the country having won multiple gold medals in previous editions. However, Pakistan have been working to rebuild their standing in international hockey after a period of decline that saw them miss several major global tournaments.

The 2026 Asian Games will provide another opportunity for Pakistan’s emerging squad to test themselves against some of Asia’s strongest teams, including India, South Korea and Japan, who remain among the continent’s leading hockey nations.

The PHF said the announced schedule will help the national team plan its preparations ahead of the tournament, with further training and selection decisions expected as the event approaches.

Pakistan’s participation in Gifu will be closely followed as the team looks to improve its international ranking and revive its reputation as one of hockey’s historic powers.

IND vs SL XI Warm Up Match Update: भारत और श्रीलंका XI के बीच शुरू हुए वॉर्म अप मैच से पहले टीम इंडिया को बड़ा झटका लगा और पहले दिन के खेल से कप्तान शुभमन गिल बाहर हो गए। टीम इंडिया के अनुभवी विकेटकीपर बल्लेबाज केएल राहुल को कमान सौंपी गई है। इस दौरान श्रीलंका XI के कप्तान सोनल दिनुशा ने टॉस जीतकर पहले बल्लेबाजी करने का फैसला किया है। यह मैच टेस्ट सीरीज से पहले टीम इंडिया के लिए अहम मानी जा रही है। इस मुकाबले में खेलकर कई खिलाड़ियों के पास श्रीलंकाई सरजमीं पर खुद का ढालने का मौका होगा।