Thursday, May 17, 2012
- Article
- Comments (0)
Resurgent Sri Lanka a big threat for Indians
AJAY RANA | Brisbane, February 20, 2012 19:54
India will now face a resurgent Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series on Tuesday. The incumbent captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is out of the team due to a one-match ban for slow over rate and thus the out-of-form Virendra Sehwag will have top lead the team after recovering from recurring back spasm.
It is the second time in the forgettable series down under that Dhoni is out of the team due to ban for slow over rate. He was two overs short in the last ODI. His absence will hurt the team most because he was in the prime form with the bat.
With 191 runs he is the third highest scorer of the current tri-series. Gambhir has got 193 runs . The availability of Sachin Tendulker is also doubtful as he has to go through precautionary MRI scan. Brett Lee's one ball had hit Sachin's helmet hard during Sunday's encounter.
If Sachin plays, Sehwag will join the team at the expense of either Suresh Raina or Rohit Sharma. Parthiv Patel, the back-up wicketkeeper will take the gloves against Sri-Lanka.
At present Australia with 14 points is sitting at the top, Indians have ten points and Sri Lanka is at the third position with seven points only.
After eight wickets win over Australians, Sri Lanka looks like a different team now. They will try to carry their winning momentum and that poses a bigger challenge for Indians.
Halfway through the tournament, the team which had topped the table is under tremendous pressure because of several reasons.
The rotation of the three experienced openers will not work in the next match but youngsters will miss the assurance of Dhoni while playing their innings in the Tuesday's encounter.
Indians may not go for four-man pace attack. R Ashwin who was successful against Sri Lankans in the last two encounters could be back for the next game as well.
The more settle Sri Lankans will try to get advantage of India's several conundrums. They were close to wins in the early matches. They pulled off a tie against India and then eight-wicket win with a morale-boosting bonus-point has given them perfect momentum.
The Indians have many questions to ponder. Seniors have to find their form and among youngsters Virat Kohli will have to play according to his new found status.
An unchanged Sri Lankan team could play the next game but Indians will have to make few adjustments while deciding their final eleven.
Aussie fast bowlers did well in Gabba and Sri Lankan pacers would be a threat for Indians as the same surface could be used for the Tuesdays game. On weather front there is a bad news for cricket lovers. Thundershowers are expected in the afternoon and evening. But back home the cricket lovers prays for rain of runs from their super heroes.
Issue Dated: May 20, 2012
