There is no way you call any side a second-string: Aravinda De Silva

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga's controversial dig at Sri Lanka cricket for agreeing to host a ‘second-string’ Indian side has not been well received by the cricketing fraternity.

After former Indian cricketers pointed out the potential of the touring Indian team, advising against considering it a second-string Indian side, Sri Lanka legend Aravinda De Silva too has said that there’s no way you can call a side second-string.

"India has got (an) enormous amount of talent going around at the moment and there is no way you call any side a second string," De Silva said during a virtual group interaction.

De Silva pointed out that a lot of teams have started to rotate players and this method of sending separate teams can be way forward.

"If you look at the current way of handling players, looking at current situation(s) world-wide, there is a rotation (of players) all over the world and these players being in a bubble has become very challenging for some of these youngsters, it is not easy," said the 53-year-old

"…I guess I won't blame anyone for changing squads and sending different squads on various tours, that I guess is going to be the future,” added De Silva, who represented Sri Lanka in 93 Tests.