MUMBAI – Pitches in India are more balanced than Sri Lanka and do not provide undue advantage to the side batting first in the World Cup, said Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara. The islanders will play their final Group A match against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Friday — their first away from home in the showpiece event.
Six out of eight completed matches in Sri Lanka have been won by teams batting first in the tournament with the match between the co-hosts and Australia being washed out. “I personally feel that pitches in India are more balanced as the condition of the wicket more or less remains the same throughout the game,” Sangakkara told reporters on Thursday.
“On the other hand, in Sri Lanka teams batting first always have an advantage since the pitch invariably slows down as the match progresses.” Sangakarra said he will miss the fanatic supporters back home who help them raise their game with their vocal support. “Sometimes, not having a huge crowd and their expectations, may make things a bit easier,” Sangakkara said.
“But we love playing in front of our crowd. Their support really lifts us… We will miss them but at the same time, we know that if we win on Friday, we can gift something special to them.”
