Mahela Jayawardene

Mumbai: No.1 qualifiers Sri Lanka didn’t make even the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, but the pundits remain convinced the team has the ammunition to surprise the best. Plus, the captaincy is in the hands of one Mahela Jayawardene, whom the iconic Ian Chappell regards as somebody with the brightest future. The 29-year-old Jayawardene, who arrived on Friday morning for the ICC awards, spoke to The Telegraph (around lunch) at the Hornby’s Pavilion, the coffee shop at the ITC Sheraton.

[Some hours later, Jayawardene was adjudged the ICC’s Captain of the Year, confirming that he is one to watch out for.]

The following are excerpts

On Sri Lanka having been the dark horse for the ongoing tournament, the Champions Trophy

(Laughs) Well, even we’d expected to do well, but didn’t... Losing the first match, to Pakistan (in Jaipur), was costly... But, then, that’s how the ball rolled.

[While the Sri Lankans beat New Zealand, in the second match, they lost to South Africa as well.]

On whether he has analysed the loss

We made too many mistakes and at crucial times... In a tournament such as the Champions Trophy, the margin for error is very small... Then, we were taken aback by the wickets in India... We’d expected them to be flat... To be suited for tall scores, but they turned out to be different.

On dew having been a factor early on

If you bowled second, then the spinners went out of the equation... Teams had to quickly change strategy... Nobody, perhaps, expected dew to have such an influence...

On the Sri Lankan team

It’s a nice mix... Youth and much experience... The quicker we learn from mistakes, the better.

On the forthcoming engagements

We face New Zealand and, then, will be back in India early next year for a series of ODIs... After that is the big one — the World Cup.

On working with Tom Moody, the coach

Each coach brings something different to the table and he has been good... Within the larger game plan, Tom gives the players a lot of freedom. It’s up to the players to make the most of that freedom.

On his captaincy getting high marks from critics

(Laughs again) It’s nice to know that people are appreciating what I’ve been trying to do... I’m not afraid to take decisions and I’m aware it won’t reflect well on me if the decisions don’t work out. Bottomline is that I’m not scared.

On whether he has idolised any captain

Not really... Of course, what I’ve been doing is talking to a cross-section of sportspersons and trying to find out how they respond to situations... I’ve got an open mind and, obviously, I’m learning... (After a pause) In fact, captaincy has much to do with instincts... There are occasions when you’ve got to back your instincts and really go for it.

On captaincy not affecting his batting

I don’t put myself under pressure... When I’m batting, I see myself as a batsman only... The captain’s cap comes on when I need to make decisions, not otherwise... It’s easy this way... Indeed, I don’t complicate things.

On staying unruffled

I just be myself... The person you see out on the field is the person I am...

Finally, on Sunday’s Australia versus West Indies final

The Australians have the depth, but the West Indians have been playing well... The Australians seem to have the edge, but it could be very close... In fact, having beaten Australia a couple of times in recent months, the West Indians won’t be short on confidence. The CCI wicket, though, may be a factor.