It’s the final stop for the ‘process’ that began some one-and-a-half years back. Not only is it the final, it’s also the last match for both teams before the World Cup.
India and Sri Lanka meet for the series-deciding ODI today. This is also their last game before the World Cup
VISAKHAPATNAM: It’s the final stop for the ‘process’ that began some one-and-a-half years back. Not only is it the final, and series-deciding, match of the India-Sri Lanka ODI series, it’s also the last match for both the teams before the World Cup. The stakes, therefore, are high for both.
For the hosts, the fourth ODI at the picturesque ACA-VDCA stadium here on Saturday will mark the culmination of what coach Greg Chappell calls the ‘process’.
All the ‘experimentation’ and ‘strategic moves’, that one has got so used to ever since the Australian was handed over the Indian reins in June 2005, get one final chance to be fine-tuned before the real test begins in the Caribbean islands in three weeks time.
Skipper Rahul Dravid, however, isn’t ready to think that far ahead yet. “For us, it’s only this match. We want to win the series first. That’s our only focus right now,” he said.
His counterpart, Mahela Jayawardene, too echoed the same thoughts. “The World Cup is still some time away — we shouldn’t give too much emphasis to it. We’re only concerned about winning this match and taking the series,” he said.
The four-match series is tied one-all, with the first match at the Eden Gardens being washed out. India won the last match in Goa by five wickets, after faltering at the winning post to gift away the second ODI at Rajkot.
“I don’t want to dwell on the past. Our first concern is to win tomorrow’s match. It looks a great wicket, we should have a good match,” Dravid added.
Sachin Tendulkar is not playing this game owing to a stiff back. “There’s nothing to worry about, it’s not serious. He just felt a little stiff, and considering the World Cup, we thought of giving him a break,” Dravid said.
Both teams hit the nets in the morning, with the Indians focusing more on their fielding. Chappell was seen paying special attention to Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, especially the former, asking the net bowlers to stick to a particular line while bowling at him.
India have left out Anil Kumble and S Sreesanth, with Irfan Pathan, who seems to have recovered from a sore back, likely to get a look-in.
“Irfan was bowling at his peak today. He didn’t feel any pain while batting and fielding. We will take a final decision on whether to play him after assessing his fitness in the morning. Yuvraj has shaped up well. We have decided to go in with one spinner, and the conditions look more suitable for Harbhajan,” the Indian skipper said.
With Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel certain inclusions, Irfan, if included, may replace Ajit Agarkar, who looked out of sorts in Goa after missing the first two games due to flu. Robin Uthappa is likely to open with Sourav Ganguly, with Virender Sehwag, who flourished briefly in a 9-ball-12 opening in Goa, coming one down in the absence of Sachin. “It all depends on the match situation. We will take a call accordingly,” Dravid added.
The Lankans have deferred announcing their playing eleven till Saturday morning. “We haven’t had a close look at the wicket yet. We’ll have a final look in the morning and then decide on the composition,” said Jayawardene.
The hosts have happy memories at this ground. In the only ODI played here earlier, against Pakistan in April 2005, India posted an imposing 356-9 with MS Dhoni blasting 148. India won that match by 58 runs. Are we in for an encore?
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