Image via WikipediaThe batting attack seems to be settled with Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman & Yuvraj occupying the first six slots. Yuvraj made his case count with a half-century in the match even as others (excluding Gambhir) disappointed.
The bowling line-up, though, is a different issue - the main strike bowlers are missing, thanks to injuries to Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth. The opening bowlers will be Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel. Mithun being too inexperienced, will be left out from the playing eleven. Ishant had match-practice in the warm-up match while Munaf could not make it to the match in time. Whether the bowlers will make an impact - in fact, it is quite challenging for the bowlers to take early wickets also. The performance in the match was not anything to evince any confidence in the attack.
In the spin department, Harbhajan was down with fever this week and hence didnt play in the lone match - SriLanka is his favorite venue in general - hopefully, he will be able to make a mark. The Indian team is looking at him to take the lead role for taking 20 wickets. Pragyan Ojha seems to have edged out Amit Mishra for the supporting role, having taken more number of wickets. Of course, most of them might have come at a time when the Lankans were trying to score quickly but nevertheless, the attack looks weak.
Both teams would struggle to take 20 wickets and therein lies the Argentina-like strategy that India should take (for lack of other choices). You score-We score more. What happened to Argentina was visible in the World Cup 2010. Will the Indians succeed? Time will tell.
