Champions Trophy 2017: 5 reasons for Sri Lanka to be optimistic

#2 A few X-factor players

Asela Gunaratne has been a saviour for Lanka in the past few months

Sri Lanka have quite a few players this time who can turn the game on its head and this might favour them against any opposition that takes them lightly. Kusal Perera at the top is one such player who can take the game away with his belligerent and aggressive stroke play. Asela Gunaratne, who hit a hundred against South Africa in February followed by some spectacular knocks in the T20s against Australia is another such player.

Lakshan Sandakan troubled the likes of AB de Villiers in the series against South Africa and is a chinaman spinner who is a relative unknown to most oppositions. He bamboozled Australia in a Test series in Lanka and could do the same to India or Pakistan, who are yet to face him.