The hosts fell to a six-wicket defeat in a rain-curtailed Pallekele match on Sunday, but Rathour saw encouraging signs. Reflecting on the final game, he praised better intent and decision-making, particularly against spin.
“I think we were better today, definitely. We showed better intent, better decision against spin. It’s a work in progress, but we are getting better,” he said.
Sri Lanka posted 189 for 5 in their 20 overs—only their fifth T20I total above 180 since the 2024 T20 World Cup—though questions remain about the side’s lack of power hitting. Rathour attributed this partly to pitch conditions in Sri Lanka.
“The surfaces here are not that conducive to power hitting. Especially in Colombo, the pitch is slow and the ball doesn’t come onto the bat. T20 batting is not just about hitting sixes; range and smart shot selection are equally important, and that is where Sri Lanka can excel,” he explained.
Rathour emphasised that hitting fours strategically can be as effective as clearing the boundary if players use the whole ground. He singled out 23-year-old Pavan Rathnayake, who scored 40 off 22 balls, praising his footwork and ability to exploit angles.
“He is batting really well, using his feet and angles impressively. Today was another good example of that,” Rathour said.
The coach also backed captain Dasun Shanaka, who was promoted to No.5 in an attempt to give him more freedom. Though Shanaka fell early, Rathour defended the experiment.
“We wanted to give him the chance to play freely. He’s the best finisher in the team, and if he settles in that role, he could help post par-plus scores,” he said.
Rathour acknowledged that Sri Lanka still struggles to capitalise on strong starts, citing collapses in the opening T20I and during Sunday’s match before Rathnayake’s rescue. Improving middle-over execution remains a focus.
“We have been getting good starts, but haven’t exploited them in the middle overs. We’re working on smarter game plans, shot selection, and all aspects in the nets, so better results will come,” he said.
Team balance has also been affected by batting inconsistencies, with the side opting for an extra batter at the cost of a fifth bowler—a strategy that backfired when Eshan Malinga suffered a shoulder injury.
“We have a strong bowling attack, but due to batting struggles, we wanted that cushion. Today’s injury is a lesson for us,” Rathour noted.
Despite the series defeat, Rathour remains optimistic that Sri Lanka’s batting unit is gradually building a foundation for improvement, focusing on clarity, adaptability, and smarter execution in the middle overs.
