India vs Sri Lanka: Galle Test promises fireworks

India go into the Test series against Sri Lanka as reigning world number one. A tag that needs to be justified and what better opportunity than in an overseas series in difficult conditions against Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka are no walk-overs and especially not when it comes to home conditions. The Sri-Lanka lion will roar in its den.

Muttiah Muralitharan Last Spin

Moreover, the test at Galle is significant because it will see the world’s greatest off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan play his last test match. The smiling assassin as he is rightly called will like to leave his side on a high after all the years he has served them like an obedient son tends to a mother. It is only justified that Murali will end his career against India because throughout his career India batsmen have proved to be his ultimate test. Murali’s wife who is an Indian will be in dilemma on Sunday morning.

India will however not care for Murali’s reputation going into this match, they have better things to care for. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni declared before the match that the swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag will have a most crucial role to play in the Galle Test. India will rely heavily on him for another big score and a positive start with opening partner Gautam Gambhir.

Many veterans will take the field from India side too. Sachin Tendulkar will be back in action after he skipped the last two series for India in the shorter formats of the game. The ever so dependable Rahul Dravid will once again do what he does best. Score runs for India and look to seal another brilliant performance overseas. India have always depended heavily on “the wall” for runs in troublesome conditions and he will have a job to do in the hot and humid weather of Galle.

Meanwhile, VVS Laxman will try to ensure that he comes up with the goods for India once again as many youngsters are eyeing his spot in the test side. Though, with his consistency in this format and knowledge of the Sri Lanka conditions, not many would doubt that the young guns will have to wait for a long while. Yuvraj Singh will flollow VVS Laxman and try to convert his recent century in the practice game to some good use against a much stingier Sri Lanka team.

Whereas the batting line up looks secure for India, the bowling looks equally fragile. The Sri Lanka top order will relish the absence of experienced pacers in this India side. Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth are out due to Injury concerns and hence a much weaker bowling line-up will walk out to do the job in Galle.

Ishant Shara will lead the Indian Pace attack

Ishant Sharma has not been in great form lately but as matters stand, he will lead the amateur pace battery. Whereas, India will find some consolation in the presence of an experienced campaigner in Harbhajan Singh, who will lead the India spin attack. The second spinner will most likely be Pragyan Ojha who proved his worth against the Sri Lanka BP XI side.

Sri Lanka must judge this position of the India side, who certainly don’t look unbeatable with this bowling attack. The old adage says, “you have to take twenty wickets to win a match” – and frankly I don’t see this India bowling attack capable of doing that unless a miracle of a pitch comes to their rescue. Sri Lanka have been tagged underdogs in this game but actually their chances are not any less than that of the India.

With the experience of Murali and Malinga in the team, Sri Lanka will hold the aces in the bowling department. So it will be, India batsmen vs Sri Lanka bowlers as India take on Sri Lanka on Sunday morning.