Lively wicket beckons both teams in Nagpur
Experienced campaigners Vijay, Ishant Sharma back for the hosts
Denied by rains in the opening Test, a confident India are set to make some strategic changes to ensure that their dominance of Sri Lanka continues unchallenged in the second match starting here tomorrow.
Having earned the psychological edge by blowing the Sri Lankan top and middle order during the final session of the drawn first Test, the hosts will once again play on a green track at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha.
The hint of grass on the pitch is in keeping with the team’s preparation for the gruelling South African tour which starts next month.
A decent cover of green on the match strip is a marked departure from what has been a traditionally low and slow batting belter over the years. However, till the first ball is bowled, it will be difficult to presume the kind of bounce that will be on offer. “It seems to be a good pitch. It will be helpful for the fast bowlers at least on the first two days,” said India skipper Virat Kohli.
For India, the challenge will be to produce an improved performance in trying conditions even though it is expected that the challenge to score runs on this track will be a wee bit less than what it was at the Eden Gardens under overcast conditions.
Kohli has shown how to take a bull by its horn with the magnificent ton in a pressure situation and his men will be itching
India:
Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh, Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Kuldeep Yadav and Rohit Sharma.
Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Dasun Shanaka, Viswa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilruwan Perera and Roshen Silva.
Sri Lanka: Match starts at 8am UAE.
Live telecast on OSN Sports HD Cricket to do the same against Suranga Lakmal and company.
India’s most technically equipped opener Murali Vijay will be making a comeback into the playing XI as Shikhar Dhawan has taken a break for personal reasons. Another certainty in the playing XI is Ishant Sharma — the most capped player in the current Test squad with 77 matches in whites.