SPORT SL 3

Other than that, Dhoni has no major worry with the
batting lineup. Dravid at number three is a formidable
fortification that can test the patience of the rival bowlers
and provide the perfect platform for a VVS Laxman to display
his mastery or a Yuvraj Singh to strut his stuff.
In the bowling department, however, Dhoni will have some
worry as beside Zaheer Khan and sporadically Ishant Sharma,
none of the Indian bowlers could impress in Ahmedabad, let
alone sending shivers down their opponent's spine.
Most unimpressive has been the spin attack and Harbhajan
Singh and Amit Mishra just cannot hide behind the convenient
truth that the dead-as-dodo Ahmedabad track was unresponsive
to the slow bowlers to say the least.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, would go into the match
believing they had India on the mat in Kanpur but a dull
track, coupled with some unimaginative captaincy by the
defensive Kumar Sangakkara, robbed them their chance to snap
the 14-match winless streak on Indian soil.
Their batting line-up looks in apple-pie order where the
top and middle order batsmen have fired in unison.
Tillakaratne Dilshan is just too good and innovative to be
curbed and his opening partner Tharanga Paranavitana has no
issues playing the second fiddle as long as it suits the team.
Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera are also in good nick
while Mahela Jayawardene's penchant for really big knocks is
something India would do well to keep in mind. MORE PTI