West Indies tri-series 2013: India vs. Sri Lanka

The rain interrupted match between West Indies and Sri Lanka was completed on the reserve day of the tournament, leaving it wide open, as all three teams still have the chance of making it to the final, mathematical at least.

However, Sri Lanka holds the advantage of having a superior net run-rate, courtesy of the massive win they scored over India earlier in the tournament. West Indies had the opportunity of stomping through into the finals by defeating Sri Lanka, but having lost that chance, their fate now depends upon the result of the India-Sri Lanka encounter.

If India manages to lose the game, they will give way to the West Indies. The net-run rate will be a negligible factor as for totals below 320 runs; India can win off the last ball and still make the final. India will be confident going into the match in spite of the heavy task at hand as they have been in similar situations before and have delivered the goods.

They will be further buoyed by the manner of their victory against the West Indies. Their ambitions will be further fuelled by the desire to exact revenge for the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Sri Lanka. India’s batting regained its shape against West Indies whereas the bowling looked rejuvenated with the presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be a little fatigued having played West Indies on the reserve day. The fact that they have practically made the final might make them complacent. Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene have doing an excellent job at the top of the order and they will want to replicate the performance they put up when they met India earlier.

Here is a list of five players who will have a considerable impact on the result of the game:

5. Shikhar Dhawan

The left-handed batsman, who had a superb Champions Trophy, struggled on the slow surfaces of Jamaica. But he seemed much more comfortable at the Port of Spain and played a valuable knock against the West Indies.

His performance against Sri Lanka will be critical at the top of the order as India’s chances of getting a win increase exponentially if the opening partnership establishes a solid foundation. The middle-order has been short of runs in the recent games and can be put under severe pressure if the top order has a meltdown.

4. Angelo Mathews

The Sri Lankan captain is having a good tournament as he has lead from the front with bat and ball. He backed up his good performance against India with a match winning spell of 4/29 in his eight overs. He had a mediocre start to his career as a captain but fortunes have lifted ever since the Champions Trophy where he led Sri Lanka to the semi-finals.

Sri Lanka have looked the best team in the tournament so far in spite of the loss to the West Indies in game one. Their batting line-up has struck form and Mathews will be overjoyed by that.

3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The swing bowler returned to the Indian side against the West Indies after he was rested for the game against Sri Lanka. The Indian bowling attack looked different altogether from the day they received the hiding at the hands of Tharanga and Jayawardene.

He has consistently provided India with critical breakthroughs with his lethal swing bowling. He is particularly effective against left-handed batsman as he sets up the batsman with a number of deliveries moving away and gets one to dip in sharply getting the leg-before and bowled dismissals into play.

He is miserly with his economy rate and the pressure that he creates at one end helps Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma at the other end. He can very well lead India to the final.

2. Kumar Sangakkara

The left-handed batsman had been quiet in this series so far after having a remarkable Champions Trophy, but once again saved the team a few blushes against the West Indies.

Sri Lanka stumbled on the first day of play, losing three runs for a meagre total of 60 runs in twenty overs before Sangakkara carried out the rescue mission on the reserve day giving the team a fighting total. He finished unbeaten with 90 runs of 95 balls and will be eager to back that up with a fine innings against India.

1. Virat Kohli

The stand-in kept proved his worth against the West Indies by rising to the occasion and scoring a fluent ton. He looked to be on the verge of such an innings but had failed to convert in a number of previous matches.

He has hit the purple patch when his team needed it the most but he will have to continue doing the same for two more matches. The knock also made a significant contribution to his leadership abilities and he looked much more secure against West Indies as he led his troops on a demolition job.

He will have to keep a tab on his players, who got a bit out-of-hand in the last game but a few dressing room discussions would have made his job easier. He will be the key man for Indian as a batsman and as a leader.