Gal le conquered, India eye Colombo
SECOND TEST India lead the threeTest series 10; look to wrap it up in Pujara’s 50th Test
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have a lot to prove when they take on India in the second Test at their official cricket headquarters – the Sinhalese Sports Club. Annihilated in the opening contest of the series, the home team’s pride has been pricked, being outplayed in all departments.
For the visitors, the No 1 side in the world for a while now, the thrust will be on consistency, which is the hallmark of champion sides. The threat to the series is how predictable it might get unless Sri Lanka improve drastically. But there are few signs to point towards that after the Galle debacle. Seldom has there been such a one-sided game in India-Sri Lanka cricket, least of all at the island nation.
CHANDIMAL BACK
In this backdrop, Dinesh Chandimal will be back at the helm, and the enormity of the task is not lost on the skipper. Facing India in sub-continental conditions is a task the best of the teams dread, and so far Sri Lanka have looked a shadow of the team they were in in 2015. However, India won’t expect an easy outing as Chandimal’s addition will lend steel to the middle order.
The last time Kohli & Co played here, the pitch tested the batsmen with pacers enjoying assistance on all four days. This time, Sri Lanka cannot afford that. Historically, India’s batting and spin bowling have been strong, but this side gets its edge
from it space attack. Mo ham med Shami and Umesh Yadav are incisive with the new ball and skillful with the old. They have good back-up in Hardik Pandya.
DRY SURFACE
The home team is expected to gamble with spin, captain Dinesh Chandimal hinting at handing a debut to left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara to support Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. It remains to be seen if India will counter the move by adding chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadavorrely on RAshwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
TOSS FACTOR
Toss will be crucial, as seen in Galle where India batted first to bury the opposition under runs. If the SSC plays to its nature, it
can be hard work for the bowlers. It is a surface where batsmen love to bat --- Mahela Jayawardene has 11 Test hundreds on his home ground and Sachin Tendulkar averaged 99.71 with four hundreds in five Tests.
PUJARA’S 50TH
While the might of this India batting line-up is a challenge for any attack, the Sri Lanka think-tank will spend considerable energy planning for Cheteshwar Pujara. Kohli will always be the wicket every team wants desperately early on. But since the last four Tests, Pujara has put a price on his wicket. The numbers tell the tale, a match-winning 92 at Bangalore, double century at Ranchi and 153 at Galle now. He will have added inspiration here as it is his 50th Test.