The pressure is firmly on India. Surprisingly trailing in the three-match T20I series against a largely inexperienced Sri Lankan combination, the host has to simply play to its potential and make it 1-1 on Friday.
With some of the leading Sri Lankans not in the squad, the visiting team’s bench strength came good at Pune where the Indian batting came a cropper. However, should Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men stay focused on making amends, there will only be one result possible. Such is the difference in the optimum playing strength of the teams.
One look at the ground here at the JSCA Stadium — a late replacement for Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla — and the bald patches in the outfield stick out as an eyesore. In some places, there is less grass than what was seen on the pitch in Pune.
In such a scenario and given the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup, it should not come as a surprise if the fielders refrain from throwing themselves at each passing ball.
Dilshan joins teamIn a boost for the Lankans, Tillakaratne Dilshan joined the team after missing the series-opener owing to a hand injury. On Thursday, he batted without showing any apparent discomfort. As Chamara Kapugedara later mentioned, it was possible for Dilshan to play.
In that case, in all likelihood, Niroshan Dickwella will lose his place with skipper Dinesh Chandimal donning the ’keeper’s gloves.
For India, with Ravi Shastri clear on giving those in the World Cup squad a ‘good run’, chances of Pawan Negi replacing Hardik Pandya cannot be ruled out on Friday. The pitch too appears dry and should encourage the spinners.
Strangely, as host, India has twice in succession got it wrong at the start of a T20 series. When South Africa’s first full tour was scheduled last year, the host offered the high-altitude Dharamshala as the venue for the opener. Conditions suited the visiting fast bowlers better and the result proved it.
Again, notwithstanding the outcome of the toss, the ‘green-looking’ pitch prepared by curator and former fast bowler P. Salgaoncar in the first game at Pune posed more problems for the Indian top-order than its counterpart.
These days, given the frequency of matches, there is very little time to gloat or grieve over results. One bad evening is soon forgotten when followed by a great outing.
How many fans care to remember that in the past year, India trailed 0-2 to Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series and could not prevent Zimbabwe from levelling the two-match T20 series?
And now, on a high after blanking Australia 3-0 in the shortest format of the game, India is being made to carry out a reality check by a depleted Sri Lanka.
There is no denying that the young Lankans have everything to gain in this series. As seen in the first match, the fast bowlers were rewarded for their consistent, disciplined line that frustrated the eager-to-dominate Indians.
Given the situation India finds itself in, it can be expected to come very hard at the opposition. Unlike in Pune, the batsmen and spinners will have significant roles to play.
