Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has urged the team not to get carried away by their 16-run win over England as the two sides prepare for the ODI series decider at The Oval on Sunday.
Sri Lanka levelled the three-match series 1-1 after captain Kusal Mendis scored a match-winning 121 off 100 balls in the second ODI.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Sangakkara said Sri Lanka should take confidence from the victory but approach the deciding game as a completely new contest.
Sangakkara Calls for a Fresh Start
Sangakkara said the team should take time to assess its performance before turning its attention to the decider.
“I think they’ve got to take a breather after this, really recoup to understand where they sit still in terms of their skill and their execution,” he said.
He warned that Sri Lanka could get “a little bit carried away with the win” and treat the next match as a continuation of the second ODI.
“No, it’s a new pitch, it’s a new day and they’ve got to restart,” Sangakkara said.
However, he said Sri Lanka should not change the approach that helped them compete with England.
“The one thing they don’t have to change, and they must not change, is that intent, that belief, that competitiveness,” he said.
Buttler Injury Changed England’s Chase
Sangakkara also pointed to Jos Buttler’s hamstring injury during England’s run chase as a pivotal moment in the match.
He said Buttler had been changing the tempo of England’s innings in the home side’s favour before the injury brought Sri Lanka back into the contest.
Sangakkara added that Sri Lanka have the ability to compete with leading international teams if they build partnerships with the bat, execute intelligently with the ball and stick to the basics.
The third ODI at The Oval on Sunday will decide the series, with both teams entering the match at 1-1.
Last modified: September 26, 2026
