India look forward to Sri Lankan battle

Batsman Yuvraj Singh has been diagnosed with dengue fever and will miss the match against the hosts.

After an embarrassing defeat in the first match against New Zealand where they were bundled out for 88 and lost by 200 runs, India go in their second Triangular Series match against Sri Lanka with another setback. Batsman Yuvraj Singh, who is finding it hard to make a comeback to the side after being dropped from the Asia Cup, has been diagnosed with dengue fever and will miss the match against the hosts.

Opening bowler Ashish Nehra is also a doubtful starter to the game while paceman Ishant Sharma is also uncertain to play. Apart from the fitness concerns, India have their work cut out after a string of poor performances by the middle-order batsmen and the bowlers unable to match the performances of the likes of Zaheer Khan, who missed out due to injury.

Add to this, Sri Lanka’s recent form, apart from their Asia Cup final defeat to India, has been impressive and their campaign started off to a winning note against New Zealand as well, the third side in the tournament.

However, India will have the services of batsmen Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina, who went to India after their first match, but are set to play the hosts.

Indian captain MS Dhoni, unhappy with the pitches prepared for the team’s practice sessions according to the team’s manager Ranjib Biswal, however, remained confident of bouncing back in the series after conceding a bonus point as well. An Indian victory will ensure that they still remain in the competition after the first round of the group stages finishes.

On the other hand Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara looked forward to the battle and said, “I don’t think India are going in unprepared. It will depend on what they are thinking about and the Indians know that they are a good side.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2010.