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Having played a key role in their thrilling semifinal win against New Zealand, Mathews was forced out of the final against India at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium by a quadriceps muscle injury.
Reflecting on the six-wicket loss to India, the former Sri Lankan captain said Mathews’ injury forced him to opt for a 6-5 combination and was also the reason behind his decision to bat first after winning the toss.
“In that WC final, that’s the biggest thing I look back and think. You can talk about drop catches and all of that happens. But the composition of the side and the fact that we were forced to make the change was to be the turning point,” Sangakkara said in the latest episode of Instagram series ‘Reminisce with Ash’ hosted by India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
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“But for 100 percent, if Angelo (Mathews) had been fit, I know for sure we would have gone for a chase. I’m not sure whether the result would have changed. That balance of the team that Mathews would give at seven really was a bonus,” the former wicket-keeper batsman said.
“If you take our entire campaign, whatever we did Mathews’ overs and his ability to bat with the tail and read situations was an incredible bonus to us. He was a young chap who came into the side and from day one he could read situations. It’s just instinct, how to up the rate, how to control the bowler when to accelerate,” he added.