India play Sri Lanka in the second match of the Commonwealth Bank series at the WACA in Perth.
Sri Lanka join India and Australia for this long ODI tri-series and will hope to overcome their recent form travails as they take on arch-rivals India in their opener. The two teams had last played in a World Cup final in April last year and since then the fortunes of both sides have plummeted rather sharply.
India has lost eight successive Test matches to go with a handful of T20Is and ODIs, and won just a T20I away from home. Sri Lanka did manage to eke out a Test match win against South Africa but that victory aside, their form – even at home – has been abysmal at the very least.
The Lankans have a new captain in Mahela Jayawardene, who takes over from Tillakaratne Dilshan. While it remains to be seen whether that will help getting the results from a tactical point of view, the relieving of the pressure job could free up Dilshan, the batsman. He is an attacking stroke-player at the top of the innings and will try going after the Indian pacers at the top.
Speaking of the quicker bowlers, India surprised all by continuing with their two pace-three spin bowler strategy for their game against Australia. While it is not beyond MS Dhoni to take rigid stands for such unthinkable tactics, the Perth pitch will demand an extra seam bowler, if not two. One of Zaheer Khan or Umesh Yadav could make a comeback into the side in place of a spinner.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly has suggested that Manoj Tiwary should be given a go as well but chances of that happening are remote given that Virender Sehwag is already waiting in the sheds.
In a match between two out-of-form teams, I will back India for the simple reason that they have been in Australia for more than almost 45 days, which allows them a better understanding of the conditions. It should be a close encounter though.
The India v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI of the Commonwealth Bank series will be played from 4.20 am GMT, February 8.
