Sanath Jayasuriya's Big Statement: Chasing Big Totals Is Good for Cricket, Sri Lanka's Historic 429 Chase in Rawalpindi

Sri Lankan batting great and former national chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has made an important observation on modern cricket, saying that chasing big totals is good for the game. He believes that in the current era of new rules and aggressive batting, spectators want excitement, and chasing big totals is the biggest part of that excitement. The statement came at a time when Sri Lanka successfully chased down a mammoth 429-run target against England in the ongoing triangular ODI series in Pakistan. Played at the flat wicket of Rawalpindi, what the Sri Lankan team achieved has become the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. Before this, the highest successful chase belongs to South Africa, which chased down 438 against Australia in 2026. Highlighting this achievement, Jayasuriya said that today's cricketers no longer take big targets lightly and their mindset has changed. Jayasuriya said that earlier teams used to play considering a score of 300 as safe, but now even 350 to 400 is not considered safe. He said the confidence of batsmen, better fitness, short boundaries and the impact of bigger bats are clearly visible in this change. According to him, when a team chases a target of more than 400, it increases the popularity of the game and sends a message to young players that no target is impossible. However, he also admitted that such matches are extremely difficult for bowlers and bowling on flat wickets is no less than a test. The Rawalpindi ground is traditionally known for fast batting and the ball comes nicely onto the bat here. For this reason, there was a shower of runs in this match and batsmen of both teams played their shots freely. This victory of Sri Lanka not only strengthened its position in the series but also proved that Asian teams are second to none in chasing big targets. On this occasion, Jayasuriya said that the aggression that has come into Sri Lankan batting is the result of hard work over the past few years and now the team is not afraid to play positive cricket even under pressure. Talking about rules and new regulations, Jayasuriya said that many changes have taken place in cricket and the new rules are proving good for the game. He said the purpose of rules should be to make the game balanced and exciting. According to him, in today's era, fielding restrictions, powerplays and the trend of big scores have kept matches exciting till the end. He also said that players should learn to adapt themselves to changing circumstances, because a team that does not change with time falls behind. Meanwhile, Indian cricket also recorded another memorable moment. In the third T20 match played in Wellington, Abhishek Sharma played a stormy innings of 113 runs off just 38 balls. In this innings, he completed his century in only 35 balls, which is counted among the fastest centuries in Indian T20 cricket. Thanks to this fiery innings, India won that match against New Zealand by 6 wickets. Abhishek's innings once again proved that in T20 cricket, from the middle order to the opening, aggression is the key to success. Jayasuriya praised the Indian team, saying that India has depth in white-ball cricket and its young players play without pressure. Jayasuriya said that the biggest strength of the Indian white-ball team is its batting depth. He said that when a team has 7-8 batsmen who have the ability to win matches, the pressure on the opposition increases. Praising Abhishek Sharma, he said that such innings are an inspiration for young players and show how quickly players coming from domestic cricket can adapt at the international level. As for Sri Lanka, the team has so far played four matches in this triangular series, of which it has won two. On the strength of this performance, Sri Lanka has secured a place in the final, where it will face host Pakistan on Saturday. Jayasuriya said that the team's goal is not just to reach the final but to win the title. He said that Pakistan is strong at home, but it will not be easy to beat Sri Lanka given the kind of cricket it has played in recent times. He said that in the final, a better combination of experience and young energy will come in handy. Talking about future plans, Jayasuriya said that Sri Lanka will tour India in December, where it has to play a white-ball series. He said that playing on Indian soil is always challenging, but this tour is also a big opportunity for the Sri Lankan team. He said that in India, a good balance of both spin bowling and batting is needed, because the conditions there are different from Sri Lanka. He believes that if Sri Lanka gives confidence to its young team and plays aggressive cricket, it can perform well in India too. Jayasuriya also commented on India's tour of New Zealand. He said that India has to play ODI and Test series in New Zealand and this tour will be important for the Indian team. He said that New Zealand conditions help fast bowlers and Test cricket there poses a different kind of challenge. According to him, India's white-ball team is strong, but the Test format tests technique and patience. He said that the New Zealand tour is a big opportunity for Indian cricket, because winning there has always been a matter of prestige. Jayasuriya also said that the diversity of formats in modern cricket has not made things easy for players. He said that the same player has to play a different kind of role in T20, ODI and Test, and this is a big challenge both physically and mentally. He said that injury and workload management are an important part of today's cricket and teams should pay close attention to this. According to him, young players should focus not only on aggression but equally on technique and fitness. Overall, Jayasuriya's comments are an accurate picture of the changing nature of modern cricket. On one hand, batting dominance is increasing and big scores have become common, while on the other hand, conditions are becoming difficult for bowlers. Sri Lanka's successful 429 chase in Rawalpindi and Abhishek Sharma's 113 off 38 balls in Wellington are both proof that today's cricket has become fast, aggressive and bold. Now it remains to be seen how Sri Lanka performs in India and India in New Zealand in the coming months. For now, Sri Lankan fans have their eyes fixed on the triangular series final against Pakistan on Saturday, where the team will once again step out with the intention of chasing a big target and proving its new mindset.