Zaheer Khan has more Test wickets (242) than the combined tally of Santhakumaran Sreesanth (60), Ishant Sharma (66) and the young Abhimanyu Mithun, yet to figure in a Test.
In the absence of spearhead Zaheer, who has pulled out of the forthcoming Sri Lanka tour with a shoulder injury, the Indian trio of Sreesanth, Ishant and Zaheer's replacement Mithun has a massive job against a Sri Lankan line-up that is often formidable at home. The squad comprises only three pacemen.
Sreesanth and Ishant — both have been through demanding times lately — need to display heart and character. And can Mithun, if given an opportunity, rise to the occasion? The pace attack lacks experience.
No left-armer
Zaheer's withdrawal also leaves the side without a left-armer's testing angle. Zaheer has the ability to prise out batsmen with two-way seam and swing from over-the-wicket; his teasing line and movement puts thd seeds of doubt in the minds of the batsmen.
Apparently, the selectors are not willing to look at senior left-armer Aashish Nehra for Test cricket. And Rudra Pratap Singh, a bustling left-armer when his mind and body are in harmony, has suffered a loss in form.
The absence of a left-armer could also impact India's spin attack. It is the left-arm paceman who creates the rough for an off-spinner to exploit. And Harbhajan Singh is India's principal spinner.
Good opportunity
However, Zaheer's absence provides Sreesanth with an opportunity to assume centre-stage; there could be a measure of assistance for the pacemen from the Sri Lankan pitches. The first of the three Tests begins at Galle on July 18.
If Sreesanth rediscovers his wrist and seam position, he could hurt the Sri Lankans with his natural out-swing. A confidence bowler, he set up India's victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Kanpur last season.
Ishant lost bite in his bowling because his bowling elbow was no longer straight in his delivery stride. Consequently, he struggled to hit the seam. If he straightens his elbow and wrist — the two are interlinked — the lanky pacemen could be probing the batsmen again with bounce and corridor bowling.
For Mithun, a promising paceman with the right attributes, the journey would be a wonderful learning experience.
