When Sri Lanka clinched a shock 1996 World Cup triumph, Dunith Wellalage and Matheesha Pathirana were not even born, but the rising stars head to India determined to repeat the victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both aged 20, fast bowler Pathirana and all-rounder Wellalage are undeterred by facing childhood heroes at the tournament that opens on October 5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We are looking forward to bringing the World Cup back to Sri Lanka," Pathirana told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I want to win as many matches for Sri Lanka as I can."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The island nation is still hurting from the drubbing by India in the Asia Cup final this month in which they were all out for just 50 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Wellalage is confident that with the preparations they have undergone, Sri Lanka can do well at the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We have players with the experience of playing around the world," he said. "We plan it match by match... I think we can give a good account of ourselves."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wellalage produced his best performance in one-day internationals in the Asia Cup match against India in Colombo on September 12, taking 5 for 40 although India went on to win by 41 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"From my childhood, the player I adored is Virat Kohli," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"To take his wicket gave me a lot of satisfaction. After I got his wicket, I couldn't believe that I had done it."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wellalage approaches the game seemingly unruffled by the pressure on his young shoulders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If you handle the situations correctly, batting becomes easy," Wellalage said, who captained Sri Lanka in the U19 World Cup last year, scoring a century and claiming 17 wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"When I get out to the middle, I always stick to simple plans," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If there is a senior player at the other end, I try to support him," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Otherwise, I try and rotate the strike as much as possible, reducing risky shots and try and put the pressure back on the bowling side."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both young men credit their family for their swift rise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wellalage was handed his first bat aged five by his mother while his father, himself once a talented schoolboy cricketer, acted as bowler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pathirana's car salesman father is a diehard cricket fan, who instilled an early love of the sport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nicknamed "Baby Malinga" for his slingy action reminiscent of veteran bowler and compatriot Lasith Malinga, Pathirana said he perfected his unusual swing by playing baseball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"From my childhood days I never bowled with the usual bowling action", he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings brought Pathirana under the watchful eyes of skipper MS Dhoni.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I learnt a lot from Dhoni. When I went there, I was a kid and no one knew me, but they trained and taught me several things," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Now, I know how to perform in any T20 game, and how to balance my four overs in a match. Dhoni told me; if I keep my body away from injury, I can achieve a lot for the team and the country."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Still, Pathirana acknowledges he is yet to master his unique arm action and bowls more wides than he wants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The coaches don't put pressure on me, they say that with my action, I will improve with age," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After playing for the Under-19s at the 2020 and 2022 World Cups, Pathirana was fast tracked by Sri Lanka Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I got a break to play in the Abu Dhabi T10, after that I played in the IPL, and with the IPL experience I graduated into the Sri Lanka team," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Head coach Chris Silverwood called Pathirana a hard worker with a "big future".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Others have high praise for Wellalage too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n