If one were to go by India’s recent record against the Sri Lankans in one-day cricket then the series beginning in Nagpur would be a no-contest.
India simply have not had that extra zip but that’s been in the heat and humidity of Sri Lanka.
Not that the heat is going to be any less in India but at least India will be on familiar territory and so will be in a better frame of mind to tackle the Lankans.
There’s also the return of Sachin Tendulkar to the team and not only does the little champion bring a massive dose of confidence in the home dressing room, he also causes a fair bit of apprehension in the opposition camp.
His return to cricket has been careful and watchful for he knows that hastening slowly after the surgery is the better course for him since he is no long a teenager who is able to ignore pain.
There have been reports about how he is mentoring the younger players in the side but that’s not something new for he has been doing that for close to 10 years now.
Ask Rahul Dravid who as a newcomer in 1996 got invaluable tips from the little champion and not just by talking to him but by observing him. The point is, not everybody is as studious as Dravid nor as intelligent and so don’t always pick up the finer aspects of the game from their seniors.
Dravid will no doubt continue to pick the little champion’s brain but will also be shrewd enough to know that the little fella can get overeager and is brimming with ideas some of which are not for lesser mortals.
All eyes will be on this duo and how their body language is will set the tone for the series.
Of course, much will also depend on how soon Sehwag gets going for he can take the game away from the opposition in a matter of overs.
Ganguly’s absence gives one of the newcomers a chance to establish himself in the side and though he is not going to be at Nagpur and Mohali, his shadow will loom large over the Indian side especially after his century in the Duleep Trophy signifying his return to form and fitness.
The bowling will also have a new look about it and the new ball bowlers might just wish for a bit more grass on the wicket. Unfortunately for them the captain is different and so the pitches at Nagpur and Mohali will be bereft of any tinge of green.
Sri Lanka have a tremendous batting line-up and they bat quite deep in the order and have the ability to score even when they have lost the major batsmen.
Jayasuriya’s fitness will be a cause for worry for he, like Sehwag, can blast his way past the opposition and in Sangakarra, Jayawardene and Atapattu, the Lankans have world class batsmen. Sangakarra was most impressive in the recent one-day Super Series in Australia and he brings lots of steel to the Lankan batting.
The style will come from the captain Atapattu and his deputy Jayawardene and Vaas can use the long handle most effectively.The first match of a series does indicate which side is going to dominate but as we saw against the Pakistanis it can be turned around by one individual performance as Afridi did for Pakistan earlier in the year. The Lankans will also have the advantage of athleticism and it’s the extra run taken and saved which will lift the team. India at home should start as favorites but only by a fraction and not more.
