Jolted India seek revival against new-look Lanka
Their pride dented by the embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe in the opening encounter, a jolted India will hope to revive their campaign against Sri Lanka in the second match of the tri-series here on Sunday.
It was hardly the start that Suresh Raina would have hoped for on debut as captain as India lost by six wickets to the hosts with 10 balls to spare.
Missing their regular stars, India were given a rude shock by the Zimbabweans who chased down a stiff target of 285 with consummate ease.
The Indian bowlers let down the team but the batting too was far from impressive. Had it not been for Rohit Sharma’s breezy 114 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 61 after a top-order collapse, getting to 285 would have been a difficult task.
“We need to work on our bowling and fielding department to come back against Sri Lanka,” Raina said after the match.
Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay were always going to find it difficult to replicate the flying starts that India are so used to with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top.
The bowling, however, is a worry as the team found out against Zimbabwe. Rookies Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda failed to take wickets or stem the run flow, while R. Vinay Kumar proved expensive.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have also rested key players, prominent among them being regular skipper Kumar Sangakkara and the in-form Mahela Jayawardene.
Tillakaratne Dilshan is leading the side without the services of senior members Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews is Dilshan’s deputy. Muttiah Muralitharan, who was ruled out during the World Twenty20 in the West Indies due to a groin injury, is also missing from the squad. The trio of opener Upul Tharanga, middle-order batsman Chamara Silva and pacer Dilhara Fernando, who were ignored for the Twenty20 Worlds, are the prominent names. All-rounder Jeewan Mendis and southpaw Lahiru Thirimanne are the new faces.
— PTI
Teams (from)
India: Suresh Raina (capt), Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Amit Mishra, Naman Ojha, Pragyan Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, R. Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav.
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Thissira Perera.
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