India’s performance in the Champions Trophy is close to impossible to surpass. Dhoni and his men’s steamrolled every team to submission. India’s encounter with Sri Lanka was no different in the semifinals. India will strive to repeat that performance when they face Sri Lanka in the tri-series match on Tuesday at Sabina Park. Having lost to West Indies, Sri Lanka will strive to salvage their reputation and India will look to get back to winning ways.
India eyes win against Sri Lanka
With the India-Sri Lanka battle ready to erupt, let us take a look at the battles within:
Virat Kohli vs Lasith Malinga/Jeevan Mendis
Virat Kohli took Lasith Malinga to the cleaners in Australia in the CB series last year. If that was not embarrassing enough for Malinga, Kohli repeated that performance again during the Champions Trophy semifinals, taking 11 runs off the 33rd over and with the help of Suresh Raina 14 off the 35th over.
Jeevan Mendis got a taste of Kohli’s attack during the 34th over in the semis. He bled 13 runs. Mendis and Malinga would be well aware of the threat and will look to get the better off Kohli this time around. It will be a battle of minds more than anything else and only time will tell who will come on top.
An enraged Malinga looking for retribution is not a bowler any batsman wants to face. But Kohli is not one to duck challenges and will not miss an opportunity to punish the Lankan bowlers and remind them why he belongs to India’s formidable squad.
Kumar Sangakkara vs Indian spinners
Probably one of the most stylish left-handers Sri Lanka has ever produced, Kumar Sangakkara will be itching to unleash himself against the Indian spinners. During the Champions Trophy semifinal, Sangakkara hardly made any impact other than wasting deliveries. Of 44 deliveries, Sangakkara added a mere 17 runs to the Lankan total. Credit goes to the Indian bowling side. Sangakkara will be coming to facing the deliveries this time around to set the record straight.
Umesh Yadav vs Mahela Jayawardene
Having played under Mahela Jayawardene in the IPL, Umesh Yadav was expected to know a few secrets about his IPL skipper. While Yadav was not able to claim his wicket in the CT semis, all Jayawardene got out of Yadav’s deliveries was a single run. The upcoming match is Yadav’s second opportunity to remind the Lankan he has a few tricks up his sleeve to take him down. On the other hand, Mahela will be looking to remind Yadav of his stature.
Rohit Sharma/Shikhar Dhawan vs Lankan bowlers
The Indian batting is at its formidable best with an explosive opening pair — Shikhar Dhawan and  Rohit Sharma. The duo is yet to stumble and the Lankan team will have to go all guns blazing if they intend to bring down the Indian batting line-up. Last time the duo went up against the Lankan bowlers, they put up 77 runs of the needed 182 before Sharma walked back to the pavilion.
The likes of of Malinga and Kulasekara were reduced to a mockery during the Champions Trophy semifinal. It took Sri Lanka 17 overs to break the partnership. This time, Sri Lanka will be looking to more than make up for the embarrassment — they will be playing for retribution.