India Vs Sri Lanka, Only T-20 - Pallekele

Both teams head into the only T-20 fixture to learn a thing or two before finalizing their squads for the World T 20 to be held in Sri Lanka in September. Indian team is on a high after defeating the Lankan Tigers in their own den but then T 20 is something which is more of a lottery!!

For Sri Lanka, Mahela will open the innings which will be a boost for the Lankan team. India are without Sehwag and Zaheer for this tie. Eyes will also be on Rohit after a horrendous run of form in the 5 ODI's.

Key Players

India

M S Dhoni

His tactics will, like always have a say in the scheme of things. As will his Luck!!!

Gautam Gambhir

How he starts always has an effect on how the rest of the team plays.

Irfan Pathan

How can we ignore him after his performance in the ODI series!!

Sri Lanka

Mahela Jayawardene

The captain of Sri Lanka is a totally different player when he open the innings. All class and elegance.

Tillakeratne Dilshan

The dasher can get Sri Lanka off to a flying start and can tear apart the already fragile Indian attack.

Thisara Perera

The Big All Rounder can single handedly win matches either with his bowling or batting.

Keeping the post short just like the T-20 game!!!

India Vs Sri Lanka - 2nd ODI, Hambantota

India won the toss in the second ODI against Sri Lanka and elected to bat first. The start was quick with India reaching 30 for no loss in the first three overs itself. Memories of the previous match where they raked up in excess of 300 were already being relived by fans.

Then came that Man, Thisara Perera (he has quickly turned into a talisman figure in the Sri Lankan line up and is my current favorite all rounder in the world), who took the ball. 5 dot balls to Sehwag and then a wonderful reflexive tumbling catch in his follow through to dismiss him Caught and Bowled off the 6th ball. Virat Kohli was snapped up in his next over. And when Raina was cleaned up in his third over India slumped to 41-4 in 8 overs (Rohit was Bowled for a duck by Angelo Mathews in the 7th over).

Dhoni departed soon and the long Indian tail was exposed. They stumbled and stuttered before finally being dismissed for a below par 138.

The Sri Lankan batting is currently underway and they are already 51-0 in 8 overs. It would require a miracle from hereon in if India are to take a 2-0 lead in the series!!! See you in Colombo!

Battle of the Blue's

India and Sri Lanka go into a battle again starting tomorrow where they clash in 5 ODI's and 1 T-20. These two teams have met quite regularly over the last couple of years and the results have been mixed with each landing quite a few blows!!!

While India are coming out of hibernation and are looking to a jam packed calender ahead Sri Lanka are fresh after their victories against the Pakistani team in ODI's as well as Test Matches. India's last two international assignments were disastrous to say the least where they failed to qualify for the finals during the tri series in Australia which also featured Sri Lanka and then again crashed out of the Asia Cup though that was overshadowed by the 100th ton that Sachin Tendulkar made against Bangladesh!!!

This series will also be helpful for the Indian team as the World T-20 will be played in Sri Lanka later this year in September. So the players have a great chance of getting a feel of the conditions and the nature of the pitches. This series is also good for India to ease into international cricket rather than playing overseas (Outside the Indian sub continent) when the pressure is always too hot to handle!!

Some of the Clashes that I am looking forward to during this series - 

1. Mahela Jayawardene Vs M S Dhoni

The shrewdness of Mahela will be up against the luck of Dhoni!! It will be an interesting battle here as in my opinion Mahela is one of the finest captains of all time but Dhoni has all the major trophies in his pocket under his captaincy!!!

2. Lasith Malinga Vs Indian Openers

It is this battle at the start of the innings that may very well decide the fate of the matches!

3. Chandimal, Mathews, Perera Vs Kohli, Rohit, Raina

The battle of the young guns!! Both the teams are packed with some of the most exciting youngsters and it will be a treat to watch them in action against each other.

My Predictions

It is always a close game when these two teams go head to head but I just feel that Sri Lanka have an advantage this time around. Playing at home, in known conditions and playing against a rusty Indian team gives them a head start in my opinion.

I predict a 4-1 win for Sri Lanka. You can argue against this prediction!!!

The Schedule of India Vs Sri Lanka Series 2012

21 July - 1st ODI

24 July - 2nd ODI

28 July - 3rd ODI

31 July - 4th ODI

4 August - 5th ODI

7 August - Only T-20

Let the Battle of the World Cup Finalists of 2011 Begin!!!!!