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Anantha’s prediction: India’s best hope is a draw
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India start a three-test series in Sri Lanka on Wednesday which will answer a few questions on how different will be their approach in the island where they only have a modest record.
Their confidence will come from the sheer experience among their batsmen and their consistency in tests playing abroad in the last two seasons.
However, they will have to play aggressively if they are to overcome Sri Lanka, always tough to beat at home with the slow pitches not very different from those in India.
India’s modest record in Sri Lanka, where they lost 2-1 the last time way back in 2001, will surely play in their minds.
However, they have a few things going for them.
Although wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the one-day captain and leggie Anil Kumble’s deputy in tests, has pulled out citing fatigue, the team have the personnel to step into that breach.
Dinesh Karthik, his likely replacement, is rated a better ‘keeper while Virender Sehwag, the vice-captain, is vastly experienced and will be motivated by the fact that his batting form is superb and he can show his leadership qualities to provide the selectors an extra captaincy option for the future.
Sachin Tendulkar, back after another injury layoff, will be determined to get the 172 runs that will carry him past Brian Lara’s record for most test runs.
However, the real battle could be between Sri Lanka’s formidable batsmen and the Indian bowlers.
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya (he could return from test retirement for his first test in seven months) are in splendid form.
Sri Lankan batsmen have traditionally played Kumble well and Harbhajan Singh, has the tendency to lose rhythm if he does not take an early wicket.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, who sliced through the one-day line-up in the Asia Cup final, could be a challenge at least early on in the series, bowling in tandem with the wily Muttiah Muralitharan.
That means India, at best, may have to be content with a series draw.
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The Wall
our fab four batsman sachin,dravid,sehwag,laxman wil show there threat to ajantha & murli.This wil be match between sachin & mendis im sure that sachin him who is he
India best bet is to rip off Srilanka apart in to some hundred small pieces.
And that is what india is capable of and shall do.
The pitches in Sri Lanka Suck, 2 out of 3 will be draw due to flat pitches and 1 test will be washed out of rain, So you are right, it will be a draw….
Sri Lanka does not have uniqueness like Australia, England or India..
No Spinner has done better against India in test nor will do for some time to come
sachin dravid laxman may play mendis better later on , but most of them will certainly fail early on. He is a surprose element altogather. our bowling lack the killer attack and is bound to be submissive … expect nothing more than a draw ( rightly said by anantha )
When India plays srilanka, it is not srilanka that defeats India, it is india defeating itself.
Mr. Abhinav,
Will wait and see who’s gonna rip who. That’s what you guys were saying before the Asia Cup Finals. At the end of the day, Indians were clueless.
“hundred small pieces” – ha ha ha, in your dreams?
Wake up man, otherwise you gonna have to deal with some real nightmare.
The Team india is surely formiddable when compared to the lankans.
A series win is a sure possibility.
come on india
While India does boast a formidable line up, it hasn’t done too well in Lanka, as Ananth has pointed out. If the batting clicks and our spinners deliver on the bowling department, we can look for our first win in 15 years.
So it boils down to the bowling, and taking 20 opposition wickets. A drawn series is more likely, but a win will justify us as the real number 2s in the cricket world, as not many nations win in the emarald island!
India’s much-touted batting line has all too often flattered to deceive. Often, it is more hype than substance. It will be a tough match for India in Sri Lanka, who play hard at home.
But looking at the strengths of both teams India has an advantage, with its strong batting lineup and several young players. But ultimately it is leadership of the team that will make the difference.
India should not be content with a draw–it would be a big letdown for the world’s richest and most pampered team, who has the best facilities and support. But the Indian team can do without idiotic fans like Abhinav who talk nonsense about India ripping Sri Lanka into pieces. People like this spoil the atmosphere of the game.
Whatever said and done,this will be a keenly contested series.And when everything is done and dusted,Sri Lanka WOULD be ON THE winning side.
i would love to see the repeat comments from most of the above especially from Abhinav after the much shameful performance of Team India in the recently concluded match which showed that Murali is too much for the Team India but Mr. Mendis is also giving nightmares. Also, i don’t see any reason for continuing Sauruv in the team now. he looks totally lost in the middle
spineless batting resurfaced again, for India. dump all NPA’s even not able to bat in the slow sub continent wickets…