Sangakkara in confident mood

Kumar Sangakkara will be in action for Sri Lanka against India © Getty Images

Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara insists his team-mates are full of confidence ahead of the one-day series against India.

The Sri Lankans face the Indians in the first of the four-match series in Kolkata on Thursday.

Sri Lanka drew their last series 2-2 against New Zealand, and Sangakkara is optimistic they will continue their good form against India.

“The team has confidence going into the series after consistent performances in recent months,” he said.

“Our confidence is pretty high and we have been playing good cricket for the last six months.

“We have been improving steadily. It's just been a case of challenging ourselves, getting out of our comfort zones and making sure we do everything right. So all the guys are looking forward to a good competition.”

Sangakkara admits that the return of fast bowler Lasith Malinga has given the squad a huge boost.

“Although we have variety of pacers, the arrival of sling-shot Lasith Malinga in particular has given the bowlers the extra ammunition to bowl out any line-up.

“Lasith Malinga has brought that X-factor into the side, that bit of unpredictability. He bowls at 150 kph-plus regularly. He is very accurate and has got a very positive attitude.

Lasith Malinga will lead Sri Lanka's pace attack against India © Getty Images

“That rubs off on all the guys in the team and when we play with him we tend to be a bit more aggressive, a bit more positive and follow him along.

“We have got an all-round pace attack. We got a good balance, guys who bowl fast and guys who bowl line and length.

“Even those who bowl fast are pretty accurate and have come a long way.”

Sangakkara also insists that Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan’s World Cup performances will not be affected by their decisions to miss the series.

“I do not feel that Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan will be disadvantaged going into the World Cup for not having come here,” he added.

“The wickets during the recent Champions Trophy were not typical Indian surfaces. It won’t really play to our advantage in this series that we played in India recently.”