TAKING STOCK
India, after the emphatic win over Pakistan, are favourites, but Sri Lanka can be party-poopers in their must-win game. HT takes a look at the teams’ strengths and weaknesses
INDIA STRENGTHS BATTING
The top four -- Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh – all scored fifties in the 124-run D/L win over Pakistan after piling up 319/3 in 48 overs. The win was an indication of the carnage India are capable of.
BOWLING
Even with Mohammed Shami sitting out, India’s pace battery proved too good for Pakistan. Hardik Pandya (20 off 6 balls, 2 wkts) also fills in the role of a pacebowling all-rounder and Ravindra Jadeja of a spinning all-rounder.
OPENING PARTNERSHIP
The reuniting of openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma – they put on 136 runs against Pakistan – will be a big boost as it wasn’t something everyone would have put their money on, especially in Indian conditions.
WEAKNESSES DRESSING ROOM
The talk of rift between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli has gone quiet, but the issue still has the potential to hit team morale, especially in tight situations where decision-making is crucial. The constant buzz is bound to act as a distraction
SLUGGISH AT TIMES
Hardik Pandya’s heroics, and fearless hitting by Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli, helped India put on 72 runs in the last four overs versus Pakistan. It helped overcome the slow progress in the middle overs. India faced 61 dot balls, and inability to score steadily might hurt in tighter situations.
FIELDING
Skipper Virat Kohli gave India’s fielding 6/10 after a shoddy effort in the match against Pakistan. At least two run outs were missed and two catches dropped, though it didn’t come back to haunt them.
SRI LANKA STRENGTHS DICKWELLA’S FORM
Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, 23, and Upul Tharanga gave a modest start in the first game loss against South Africa while the rest of the team failed. Tharanga will serve a two-game suspension (for slow over-rate) but Sri Lanka can hope Dickwella maintains form. He is yet to hit a ton in 12 ODIs, but averages 47.4 in his last five ODIs.
BOWLING
With Lasith Malinga spearheading the charge, pacers Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep too can hope to exploit the conditions. Malinga’s yorkers are still hard to tackle while Pradeep has been an asset.
BATTING DEPTH
Despite their poor show against South Africa, Sri Lanka have batting depth with the likes of Dinesh Chandimal. No 7 Asela Gunaratne is a proven match-winner, as he showed against Australia earlier this year.
WEAKNESSES CAN’T BUILD ON STARTS
Even a target of 300 isn’t impossible to chase now, but Sri Lankan middle-order has crumbled under pressure in the past few series. It stood up against Zimbabwe and West Indies, but neither are in Champions Trophy.
CAPTAINCY
Skipper Angelo Mathews missed the SA clash due to ankle injury and stand-in Upul Tharanga was suspended for two matches for slow-over rate. If Mathews isn’t fit, they will miss their best player for the second game.
EXPENSIVE SPELLS
The bowling attack has leaked runs. In seven ODIs before Champions Trophy, they conceded 300-plus four times. Against India’s batting might, the bowlers must click as the batsmen haven’t been able to scale mammoth targets.