For India’s cricketers the Tri-series in Sri Lanka with the hosts and New Zealand will be the beginning of a season where they will be looking to go on top of the one-day rankings.
Unfortunately India is scheduled to play only 3 Tests this season which won’t help their chances of going to the No.1 spot but with plenty of one-dayers ahead the No.1 spot in that format is a real possibility.
That’s why this tri-series is important for if they begin well then they will be high on confidence for the rest of the season. They have had a rare two-month break from the game and while they may be a tad short of match practice they will be fresh, energetic and raring to go.
The Corporate Trophy will have given them a good outing before they embark for the emerald isle and they will have shaken off any rustiness by playing in the tournament.
Most of the India players are in top form which is a good sign and with the return of Dravid and Tendulkar to India duty, the team has a nice blend of youth and experience.
The Sri Lanka and New Zealand teams will have the advantage of already being in the thick of the action and are better prepared for the conditions than the Indians but that is not a big issue since the Indians have been regular visitors to Lanka and so know what to expect.
It would have no doubt been a big help if they had held the camp in Chennai which has similar weather conditions especially since its the start of the season where endurance is tested to the full and the hot and humid conditions in Lanka are a demanding test indeed.
India will miss Virender Sehwag’s explosiveness at the top of the batting order though for some reason he has not been as productive in limited overs format as he is in the longer version of the game. Still opposition teams fear him because he gets the side off to an electric start, which can be used as a platform by those following to take the total, which is hard to chase.
Zaheer’s absence also will be felt but with injuries recurring a bit frequently India should be prepared for a life without him sooner than later. Ishant Sharma will have to take the baton from him and carry the India attack.
He now has two years of solid experience and has shown tremendous willingness to learn and improve but in limited overs cricket he looks as if he is trying to bowl too fast and more often than not that takes the ball quicker off the bat to the boundary.
Harbhajan Singh is probably at the peak of his cricketing career not just with the ball but also with the bat. His batting has come on so well that he bids fair to be categorized as an all-rounder now and with a bit more consistency will soon be referred to thus.
India’s fielding which often is the difference between winning and losing has improved by leaps and bounds with the induction of youngsters though still short of standards set by South Africa and Australia. It is a good mix and if this team wins the tournament it won’t be a surprise.
Well begun is half done as the saying goes and India’s season begins here.
