Asia Cup 2012: India vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 - Match Preview
Fresh from their disastrous tour of Australia, World Champions, India, are set to open up their Asia Cup campaign against a resurgent Sri Lankan side at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur today, March 13, 2012.
The Lankans are the second most successful side in the quadrangular series after India with four trophies to their name. Considering their recent performances against India and Australia in the CB series, the Islanders will go into today’s match as the undisputed favourites.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Men in Blue, the reigning champions of the sub-continent, will be eager to overturn their topsy-turvy performances in Australia, which saw them losing the four-match Test series 0-4 to Australia, before they were ousted in the league stage in the just-concluded triangular Commonwealth Bank series.
Indians are the defending champions of the regional One-Day tournament and they undoubtedly have the fire power to defend the title, but it remains to be seen how they will cope with the exertion of a 10-week long tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, and how quickly they adapt to the playing conditions in the Subcontinent.
MS Dhoni-led Indian side will be without the hard-hitting opening batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539.
The Lankans have got a formidable top order which includes the likes of skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779. The presence of a number of all-rounders in the middle order will surely keep them in good stead.
Their bowling attack has plenty of variety and could trouble the Indian line-up, already low on confidence after their tumultuous tour of Australia. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Seekkuge-Prasanna-c89140 and Sachithra Senanayake, which will be an additional advantage for the Lankans at Mirpur, which traditionally favours the slow bowlers.
All eyes would be set on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, whose aggressive captaincy during the CB series propelled him into the limelight, and cricket pundits are eager to see how he will lead the Lankans in Asian conditions.
Going by Sunday’s mouth-watering curtain raiser between the hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, the Mirpur wicket looks batting friendly. The absence of dew in the evening ensured that the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. If the conditions do not change, the fans will see a terrific contest between bat and ball.
India-Sri Lanka clashes have always been close, and keeping in view the tense nature of the matches played between the two Asian giants during the Commonwealth Bank series in Australia, which also included a thrilling tie, one can expect a mouth watering contest at the Shere Bangla Stadium today.
Likely XIs:
Sri Lanka: 1 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 2 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sachithra-Madushanka-Senanayake-c87813
India: 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-Dinda-c1098
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