The Punjab Cricket Association Ground in Mohali, Chandigarh is the venue for the 2nd Indo-Sri Lankan One Day match. And the people of Chandigarh are so lucky to get so much of cricket in a span of few days. Just few days back they had the NKP Challenger Trophy where they had witnessed 4 good games and more importantly had the opportunity of watching some big stars and some upcoming stars. India had drawn first blood at Nagpur and Sri Lanka is keen to dilute India’s advantage in this series.

The Toss : In the first game, Dravid was lucky to win the toss and get to bat first on a batting paradise. With the kind of batting that both teams have, any team that would have batted first on that day would have won the game, of course they needed to bat sensibly which the Indians did. Just imagine that had Sri Lanka won the toss, they could have even made something over 300 and then their spinners Murali & co. would have made life difficult during the Indian chase.

 

The Dew Factor would influence the game

Anyway, here at Mohali it’s slightly different when it comes to cricketing conditions. To begin with this game is a day night affair and that’s what gets another factor that would influence this game called the ‘dew’. Win the toss and probably field first at this venue, the team that defends a total would have to combat with a wet ball every time it goes in the outfield in the evening.

The fielding side in the second innings would have to take advantage of the ‘skidding of the new ball’ during the initial stages of the run chase. If they can make inroads, they can put up the pressure on the new batsmen and strive on creating pressure of scoring quickly under lights for the batting side. The spinners would certainly struggle to grip the ball and we might witness some full tosses in this match.

Mohali has given some exciting games in the past and that’s because there are enough opportunities for the pace bowlers to be in the game. The wicket looks greenish, something which the pacers can exploit if they bend their backs. The outfield is so lush and it’s just timing the ball in the gaps for the batsmen and for the bowlers it would be pure discipline – bowl one line consistently according to the field.

 

India needs to keep the momentum going

Things worked out well for skipper Dravid in the first game, Tendulkar and Pathan batted the Lankans out of the game. Irfan Pathan should come in at No.3 and play according to his role. One thing that India needs is Sehwag to put his head down and play according to the merit of the ball, even if he can bat out for 30 overs, then India is going to be in a tremendous position. Nothing much needs to be said about Sachin or Dravid, you can trust these batsmen to play responsibly and at the same time expect them to keep the run rate going. The batsmen to follow haven’t been tested for India with the exception of Dhoni, but Yuvraj Singh, Venugopal Rao have been amongst the runs recently.

India might just go in with just one spinner in Harbhajan considering the dew effect and might go in for a batsman instead of Murali Kartik as the Super Sub. With Dravid announcing that Suresh Raina and R.P.Singh are left out, Gautam Gambhir might be used as the Super Sub. Jai Prakash Yadav will have to play an important role along with Agarkar in this game as a support bowler to Pathan and Sree Santh. J.P.Yadav has been bowling superbly within his limitations and he has the ability to bowl 10 overs without really being expensive. Sachin Tendulkar is going to play his 350th ODI - a feat that has been achieved by no one till date. That indeed is a huge amount of One Day Internationals in one's career and no wonder his body has taken some beating in the recent past with some injuries.

Sri Lankan batsmen need to stay at the crease

A good opening stand is vital to set a platform for the remaining batsmen to blast their way. If Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya bat out some time then Sri Lanka’s batting would be in place. People like Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene need to realize that once they have got a start they need to go on to make atleast an 80 if not a hundred. Particularly Jayawardene, he needs to curb his fancy reverse sweeps and depend on his wide range of shots to get him the runs. Sri Lanka then have useful all rounders who can finish off things in a grand style.

 

The bowling department depends on Chaminda to make inroads. Unless and until they get early wickets, it would be difficult for the Lankan spinners led by Murali to keep the runs down. Vaas was a major disappointment in the first game and it was because of his line he was bowling at times, feeding the batsmen on their legs. For Muralitharan, a failure is giving away something above 45 runs and going wicketless in a high scoring match. This man is great isn’t he! So to sum up Sri Lankan bowling isn’t as bad as it was in Nagpur and for them taking early wickets is the key.

The real thing is after the match is over!

Yes after the match is over, the five-wise men of India are going to pick the Indian squad for the next three ODIs to follow. And Sourav Ganguly would definitely have his fingers crossed throughout the day; Ganguly has come out fighting with a hundred in the Duleep Trophy on a green wicket at Rajkot. But would the Selectors actually pick him? Do we get to see Chappell and Ganguly working together finally? That’s the mystery which is going to be unfolded after the match. If Ganguly is selected in the squad then one unfortunate youngster in the 11 needs to make way.


India (short listed to 13) : Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (Captain), Yuvraj Singh, Y.Venugopal Rao, Jai Prakash Yadav, M.S.Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Sree Santh, Gautam Gambhir

 

Sri Lanka :

Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene (Vice Captain), Kumar Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), Tillakarathe Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Russel Arnold, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas,  Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Lokuhettige