The Men In Blue are set to start their new season after much needed seven-week break as they will take on hosts Sri Lanka in the five match ODI series. Both teams are also scheduled to play lone T20 international. The viewers are used to of seeing India-Sri Lanka rivalry on cricketing field as both these teams have played with each other in 13 ODI series since 2008. The forthcoming series can be seen as the warm-up of the 2012 T20 World Cup which will be hosted by Sri Lanka in September. However, rain may play the spoilsport and there is a reserve day kept for all the five one-dayers.
India
The visitors had a disastrous previous season as World Champions faced humiliation on English and Australian soil by losing all eight Tests overseas. As if drubbing in Test series was not enough, they even failed to qualify for final in CB series and Asia Cup respectively. India would like to start a news season on winning note before hosting New Zealand, England, Pakistan and playing T20 World Cup. The 5-0 win in the ODI series against Sri Lanka will also help India to become a number one team in the ICC ODI rankings. Indian selectors have sent full strength team to Sri Lanka. The batting line-up with Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina is looking very strong. While, Zaheer Khan will spearhead the bowling attack which includes pacemen Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda. The responsibility of spin attack will be on the shoulders of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. If India will go with seven specialist batsmen then all-rounder Irfan Pathan may struggle to find his place in playing eleven. India have won its last two bilateral series on lankan soil in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Therefore, World Champions have golden opportunity to start the new season with series win
Sri Lanka
Jayawardene-led Sri Lanka is high on confidence after beating Pakistan in ODI and Test series at home. This will be the last international series for them before T20 World Cup as all the lankan players would represent their respective teams in Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) during 15-day long tournament, starting from 11th August. Tilakaratane Dilshan and Kumar Sangakaara are in good touch but form of skipper Mahela Jayawardene is a bit of concern for the home side as he had miserable recent ODI and Test series with bat against Pakistan. All-rounder Angelo Mathews can turn the match at anytime as he did in the fifth and final ODI against Pakistan and he is a great asset for the lankans with both bat and ball. Pacer Lasith Malinga hasn't had much success against India in recent past but no team can take him lightly. While, Nuwan Kulasekara's ability to move the ball both ways could create trouble for Indian batsmen under lights. All-rounder Thisara Parera is also in great form with ball. Left-arm pacer Isuru Udana is set to make his ODI debut and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will look forward to contain the strong Indian batting line-up. The in-form Sri Lankan side would like to carry its winning momentum at home before T20 World Cup.
Battle to watch out for:
Earlier this year, Virat Kohli has hammered Lasith Malinga all over the park in Australia during his unbeaten 133-run knock that helped India to chase down 321 in just 36.1 overs. The battle between Kohli and Malinga is again going to be interesting and more interesting will be the approach of Delhi Dasher against Sri Lanka's pace spearhead.
India squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, R Ashwin, Irfan Pathan, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane.
Sri Lanka squad:Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana.
Quotes
"Most of the players have come back after a long break and the body looks very different and their fielding and other activities look very different.We will make the most of the rests that we have got. It's the start of the season and we want to start it on a good note.," MS Dhoni, Indian captain.
"It's a good opportunity against India. We need to take the team forward. We have brought in a few new players for the one-day side, and we have to think about the World Twenty20 and which of these players will be suitable for that competition," Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lankan captain.
India
The visitors had a disastrous previous season as World Champions faced humiliation on English and Australian soil by losing all eight Tests overseas. As if drubbing in Test series was not enough, they even failed to qualify for final in CB series and Asia Cup respectively. India would like to start a news season on winning note before hosting New Zealand, England, Pakistan and playing T20 World Cup. The 5-0 win in the ODI series against Sri Lanka will also help India to become a number one team in the ICC ODI rankings. Indian selectors have sent full strength team to Sri Lanka. The batting line-up with Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina is looking very strong. While, Zaheer Khan will spearhead the bowling attack which includes pacemen Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda. The responsibility of spin attack will be on the shoulders of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. If India will go with seven specialist batsmen then all-rounder Irfan Pathan may struggle to find his place in playing eleven. India have won its last two bilateral series on lankan soil in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Therefore, World Champions have golden opportunity to start the new season with series win
Sri Lanka
Jayawardene-led Sri Lanka is high on confidence after beating Pakistan in ODI and Test series at home. This will be the last international series for them before T20 World Cup as all the lankan players would represent their respective teams in Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) during 15-day long tournament, starting from 11th August. Tilakaratane Dilshan and Kumar Sangakaara are in good touch but form of skipper Mahela Jayawardene is a bit of concern for the home side as he had miserable recent ODI and Test series with bat against Pakistan. All-rounder Angelo Mathews can turn the match at anytime as he did in the fifth and final ODI against Pakistan and he is a great asset for the lankans with both bat and ball. Pacer Lasith Malinga hasn't had much success against India in recent past but no team can take him lightly. While, Nuwan Kulasekara's ability to move the ball both ways could create trouble for Indian batsmen under lights. All-rounder Thisara Parera is also in great form with ball. Left-arm pacer Isuru Udana is set to make his ODI debut and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will look forward to contain the strong Indian batting line-up. The in-form Sri Lankan side would like to carry its winning momentum at home before T20 World Cup.
Battle to watch out for:
Earlier this year, Virat Kohli has hammered Lasith Malinga all over the park in Australia during his unbeaten 133-run knock that helped India to chase down 321 in just 36.1 overs. The battle between Kohli and Malinga is again going to be interesting and more interesting will be the approach of Delhi Dasher against Sri Lanka's pace spearhead.
India squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virat Kohli (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, R Ashwin, Irfan Pathan, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane.
Sri Lanka squad:Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana.
Quotes
"Most of the players have come back after a long break and the body looks very different and their fielding and other activities look very different.We will make the most of the rests that we have got. It's the start of the season and we want to start it on a good note.," MS Dhoni, Indian captain.
"It's a good opportunity against India. We need to take the team forward. We have brought in a few new players for the one-day side, and we have to think about the World Twenty20 and which of these players will be suitable for that competition," Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lankan captain.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment