{source}
<g:plus href="https://plus.google.com/112292162587333995474" rel="author" width="300" height="69"></g:plus>
{/source}Whenever India play Sri Lanka, it is expected to be a high scoring match as both the teams are loaded with some great batsmen and the pitches in the sub-continent are always in favour of the batsmen. The first match of the five match ODI series was exactly that and it has set the tone for the rest of the series.

India, who were coming off a long break, did very well with the bat and posted a total of 314, Sri Lanka in reply, came close to the target but fell short by 21 runs in the end.

All the matches are expected to be played on the same line, as the captain who will win the toss is most likely to bat first and hope that his bowlers can defend the target. Both these teams are blessed with some great bowlers and in the end it will always come down to the bowlers of either side,

Indian bowlers were a bit better than their counterparts and that gave India the victory.

Let’s have a look at some of the players from either side who can make a difference in today’s match:

Players to watch out from the Indian team:

Virat Kohli: Kohli is in magical form and he will look to continue his assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He has scored three consecutive centuries against the Lankan Tigers and even Jayawardene has confessed that he is the biggest threat for his team. He has dominated all the bowlers in the past and the way he treats Lasith Malinga is almost unbelievable. Sri Lanka will have to get him out early if they want to make a comeback into the series.

Gautam Gambhir: He failed in the previous match and will be itching to have a go in today’s match. Gambhir was looking comfortable till he was on the crease and he will consider himself a bit unlucky going by the way he got out. Gambhir has been in very good form off-late and he has done well against the hosts in past.

Irfan Pathan: He was arguably the best bowler of the match in the previous game and he will be looking to carry on bowling in the same way. A match that saw more than 600 runs being scored, Pathan only conceded 37 runs of his 10 overs and picked up two wickets. Pathan who is making a comeback into the squad needs performances like these to be a permanent face in the team.

R Ashwin: Ashwin has been India’s preferred spinner since the time Harbhajan Singh was dropped from the team. Ashwin bowled at a steady line and length and did manage to stop the flow of runs in the previous match. He ended the match with good figures of 2-46 and will be looking to perform in the same manner throughout the series. With Harbhajan Singh in the probables list for the T20 World Cup, Ashwin will know that he will have to deliver some goods in this series or he might lose his position.


Players to watch out from the Sri Lankan team:

Kumar Sangakkara: He was in sublime touch against Pakistan in the Test series and he continued his merry way as he scored a terrific hundred against the Indians. His 133 runs innings was the reason Sri Lanka came so close to the Indian target and things could have been a lot different if he had got some able support. He is one of the best batsmen in the Sri Lankan outfit and has always delivered when the chips are down.

Angelo Mathews: This Sri Lankan all-rounder did not make any influence in the last match bit he is one of the best finishers in the world. He assesses the situation very well and has the ability to play according to the team’s need. Mathews is a clean striker of a cricket ball and has improved his batting a lot. He is more than handy with the ball and has troubled Indians in the past with the swing he gets.


Thisara Perera: He had a dream series against Pakistan where he picked important wickets in both Test and one-day matches. He was among wickets in the last match and made a quick-fire forty at the end of the innings. Perera has a lovely out-swinger and he bowls at a good pace. He looks to make the batsmen drive and has the ability to produce outside edges. He is equally dangerous with the bat and can take the match away in a matter of few overs.

Lasith Malinga: The last few spells that he has bowled against the Indians has been the most expensive spells of his career. Malinga is a very good bowler but has struggled tremendously against the like of Kohli and company. Malinga is a fierce competitor and he will be looking to take the revenge on the Indian batsmen.

By Gaurav Jha

Indian Sports News