The Lanka opener said that he enjoyed batting with veteran Jayasuriya but never tries to match the flamboyant batsman in stroke-play.
MUMBAI: Young Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga said that he enjoyed batting with veteran Sanath Jayasuriya but never tries to match the flamboyant batsman in stroke-play.
Tharanga, who scored two successive hundreds in the ICC Champions Trophy in India, said that the two left-handed batsmen complement each other.
"I never try to match him. Batting with Sanath has been very good for me as if he is going for the shots, I can play my game," said Tharanga, about partnering Matara marauder Jayasuriya at the top of the batting order.
Tharanga, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Friday, also felt that playing India would be beneficial as they are in the same group with Sri Lanka in the World Cup.
"Playing against India here gives us a good chance ahead of the World Cup as we are in the same group," he said after the Lankans' had their first practice session at the Bandra Kurla complex ground on Saturday.
The visiting team will play a warm-up game at the Cricket Club of India here tomorrow against Mumbai X1 and have a rest day on Monday before leaving for Kolkata for the series opener on February 8 at the Eden Gardens.
Tharanga said he is looking forward to play in the mega event.
"It would be a big chance for me. Playing in the World Cup is very big opportunity", the left handed opener said.
Tharanga said that the New Zealand tour by Sri Lanka helped the islanders to learn to bat in different conditions.
"It helped us to learn on how to bat in conditions different from the sub-continent and the necessity to be patient," he said.
"Sanath, Muralitharan, Vaas and Atapattu tell the team how to play and win the World Cup and they are encouraging us all the time," he said.
Though he said he did not try to play like any one else in world cricket, he was enamoured by West Indian great Brian Lara's batting in his childhood and he got a chance to talk to the latter during the last Champions Trophy in India.
"I am not playing like anyone. In my childhood, I liked to play like Lara. And during the Champions Trophy I talked to him," he said.
When asked about Indian pitches, Tharanga said, "I think Indian pitches are suitable for batsmen. The seniors in the team tell me to play my normal game and that's why I scored runs here".
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