Kusal Perera says “Switched my batting style from right to left-handed to bat like Jayasuriya” in T20 World Cup 2021. Perera has admitted to switching from a right-handed batter to a left-handed batter. He only wanted to bat like Sanath Jayasuriya, his idol. Perera’s admiration for the Sri Lankan hero is well-known, as is his aggressive batting approach. He is frequently likened to Jayasuriya. Perera is a member of Sri Lanka’s senior squad for the T20 World Cup in 2021.
“In my childhood, I used to play as a right-handed batsman. But, obviously, I liked Sanath Jayasuriya and his batting style. So, I switched my batting style from right-handed to left-handed to bat like Jayasuriya. It was tough (initially) but, at the moment, I am very confident,” Kusal Perera said.
Kusal Perera
“At that time, (in the 90s) it was a trend – Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana opening the batting. The whole world was watching the way he (Sanath) was batting. I loved the way he played his cut short, the flick and pull. That’s all in my memory. I am not trying to copy him, but obviously, I like to play like him,” Perera said.
Lastly, Jayasuriya scored 6973 runs in 110 Tests during his career. In addition, he has 13430 runs in 445 ODIs. In 31 T20Is, he scored 629 runs. Perera will be key to the team’s hopes, according to Mahela Jayawardene. He will bat at the top of the order in the T20 World Cup in 2021.
“It is a great opportunity for him, batting at the top of the order, and being that difference in the team. A lot of the guys will react to how he goes about things. So yes, there is a little bit of added responsibility and pressure on him. But, good players always enjoy that kind of pressure,” Perera said.