LPL 2021: Rajapaksa dreams big: ‘Wants to see Virat Kohli in Lanka Premier League’

Sri
Lanka
batter
Bhanuka
Rajapaksa
is
among
the
list
of
such
players
who
marvel
at
Kohli
for
his
leadership
skills,
grit
and
determination.

In
an
interaction
with
ANI,
Rajapaksa
opened
about
his
leadership
style,
the
impact
of
Lanka
Premier
League
(LPL)
on
Sri
Lanka
Cricket
(SLC)
and
his
wish
to
see
stalwart
Kohli
playing
in
the
LPL.

“It’s
always
exciting
when
you
are
leading
a
side.
I
got
the
opportunity
because
Shahid
Afridi
left
halfway
through
last
year
due
to
personal
reasons.

“It’s
been
a
fantastic
moment
with
the
boys
and
I
am
looking
forward
to
clinching
the
title
this
year,”
said
Rajapaksa,
who
is
captaining
Galle
Gladiators
in
the
LPL
2021.

When
asked
who
was
his
favourite
Indian
cricketer,
Rajapaksa
had
no
doubt
in
taking
Kohli’s
name.

“Without
any
doubt,
at
the
moment
I
would
say,
Virat
Kohli.”
he
said.

The
Sri
Lanka
batter
was
quick
to
pick
Kohli
when
asked
which
Indian
cricketer
would
he
love
to
see
in
the
LPL.
“Definitely
Virat
Kohli,”
an
elated
Rajapaksa
said.

Rajapaksa
is
relishing
his
role
as
the
captain
of
Galle
Gladiators
and
the
batter
feels
his
captaincy
has
improved
his
game.

“For
me,
I
have
been
leading
the
team
for
a
while
now,
so
it
has
always
made
a
positive
impact
in
my
batting.
As
a
captain,
I
am
always
going
for
a
kill,
I
don’t
want
to
lose
a
match
by
10-15
runs,”
said
Rajapaksa.

“Even
if
it
is
one
run
I
don’t
mind
losing
a
match.
Captaincy
has
made
a
huge
impact
in
my
batting,
it
has
become
more
aggressive,”
he
added.

Rajapaksa
has
no
doubt
that
the
franchise
tournament
(LPL)
will
definitely
help
Sri
Lanka
in
finding
quality
cricketers
for
the
Asian
side.

“Of
course,
if
you
look
at
other
leagues
around
the
world
they
have
found
so
many
youngsters
even
the
players
who
have
not
been
performing
in
the
past,
they
get
a
good
opportunity
playing
under
the
lights,
playing
with
a
lot
of
crowd
around
you,”
said
Rajapaksa.

“It
is
going
to
be
a
big
benefit
to
Sri
Lanka
Cricket
and
we
have
seen
the
benefit,
we
have
found
a
couple
of
youngsters.
The
LPL
I
think
it’s
going
to
be
a
big
hit
in
the
coming
future,”
he
added.

Sitting
third
on
the
points
table,
Galle
Gladiators
have
five
points
from
six
games
and
Rajapaksa
has
all
his
concentration
towards
Tuesday’s
match.

“We
are
pretty
confident,
we
had
faced
many
difficulties
last
year.
We
were
fifth
or
fourth
in
the
table
but
ended
up
reaching
the
final.

“So,
we
have
done
way
better
than
last
year,
so
I
think
it’s
just
a
matter
of
winning
a
match
or
two.
Today’s
match
will
be
a
big
game
for
us,”
he
signed
off.

After
the
game
against
Dambulla
Giants,
Galle
Gladiators
will
face
Jaffna
Kings
in
their
last
league
match
on
Friday.
Fans
can
watch
Jaffna
Kings
vs
Galle
Gladiators
LIVE
on
SONY
TEN
2
(English)
channels
on
December
17
at
3:00
pm
IST.