SPORT SL 2

The underlying story of India's first innings display in
Ahmedabad was their incapability to see through the morning
session, when the ball tended to move a bit.
Inside eight overs after Dhoni had opted to bat first,
India lost its top four batsmen for 32 measly runs and Sri
Lanka's joy knew no bound to see the backs of Virender Sehwag,
Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.
And the early morning blues came to haunt India again on
day two. After the broad blades of Rahul Dravid and Dhoni had
weathered the storm, the hosts, resuming at 385 for six,
folded inside another 15 overs.
Already the pitch curator here has advised the batsmen to
exercise some caution, at least in the first two days' morning
sessions before they embrace extravagance.
The hosts, however, can take heart from the fact that
they have a judicious blend of swashbucklers and
sheet-anchors, which makes it so difficult for the opponents
to tame them.
Rahul Dravid has always been the bulwark of the Indian
line-up and now Gautam Gambhir has also proved that his is not
merely a one-dimensional game and he just cannot be dismissed
as just another mindless slogger.
The left-hander has proved that he has the temperament
also and if situation merits, he can stay rooted, frustrating
the rivals with his impregnable defence.
Incidentally, it's now Sehwag who finds his form under
scrutiny. Licensed to thrill, the Delhi dasher is one of those
rare players whose strength is his weakness. More PTI