Sri Lanka v India 3rd Test preview: Stage set for a thrilling decider in Colombo

Sri Lanka v India 3rd Test preview: Stage set for a thrilling decider in Colombo: The celebrations are done. The farewell is formally over. And now its time for Cricket to take centre stage. Sri Lanka will struggle to remember when they last played a Test without Sangakkara and Jayawardene. When they take the field on the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday for the 3^rd and deciding Test of the series against India, only one thing would occupy their mind which is to preserve their proud home record of not allowing the Indians to win a Test series in the island nation for 22 long years. It won’t be easy as India have all the arsenal to change that.

India should gain a lot of confidence from the second Test. Kohli’s men showed tremendous character and mental strength to bounce back and pull off a comprehensive win. They outplayed Sri Lanka in almost every department and practically everyone chipped in with either bat or ball. But they received a couple of blows too, with opener Murali Vijay and wicket keeper Wriddhiman Saha ruled out with injuries. Riding on Ravichandran Ashwin’s terrific form with the ball (17 wickets in 4 innings), the visitors have managed to dominate almost eight out of the nine days of cricket played so far in the two matches.

Since Vijay and Saha have been ruled out Pujara is all set to open alongwith Rahul with Naman Ojha comes in for Saha. Rahane is expected to walk in one down after he scored a match winning ton in the 2^nd innings. The pacers Ishant and Umesh have impressed while Mishra proved a perfect foil for R Ashwin in the last game.

The end of the second Test was an emotional affair for the hosts as they bid goodbye to a legend and the strongest cog in their batting lineup, Kumar Sangakkara. Going into the final Test of the series, Angelo Mathews and his team will have to regroup in more ways than one. Sri Lanka’s batting has let them down in the series. Apart from captain Angelo Mathews (57) and Dinesh Chandimal (82.33), no one averages more than 50. The query would also be who replaces Kumar Sangakkara in the line up. Upul Tharanga is most likely expected to come in for Sanga and will bat at number three.

Angelo Mathews is now the only tried and tested batsman in a team of inexperienced players. As for their bowling, Rangana Herath was at his best in the second innings at Galle when he took 7 for 48, but barring that performance he has not done much in the series. Tharindu Kaushal has been sublime in patches while ordinary on most occasions. Dhammika Prasad has been their most threatening pacer but Nuwan Pradeep and Chameera have looked a touch listless. Sri Lanka might be tempted to give uncapped young pacer Vishwa Fernando a shot.

Mathews conceded Sri Lankan batsmen needed to find a way to tackle off-spinner Ashwin, who followed his 10-wicket haul in the first Test with seven scalps at the P. Sara Oval.

Given the way the series has gone so far India are likely to continue their dominance. But that is no guarantee for a victory as we saw in Galle. India haven’t won a series in Sri Lanka since 1993 and an away series since 2011. The previous victory was important not only because it helped the visitors draw level but also it helped them break a nine-match win-less streak. As they move to the SSC for the third and final Test, India will be looking to break end a 22-year wait for a series win on Sri Lankan soil.

Stats to ponder:

1. R Ashwin is just nine wickets from reaching 150 Test wickets. If he manages it in this match, he will join Clarrie Grimmett as the third quickest to the mark.

2. If Naman Ojha plays for India, and if Kusal Perera plays and keeps wicket for Sri Lanka, it will be the 14th instance of two wicket-keepers making their debut in the same Test match.

3. Last time Sri Lanka lost a Test at the SSC was way back in 2004 when Australia beat them by 121 runs. Since then, Sri Lanka have won seven Tests here out of 14 with remaining seven ending in draw.

4. A series win will make Virat Kohli the youngest Indian captain to win a series outside India.

Probable XI:

Sri Lanka:

Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera (wicket keeper), Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal/Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Pradeep.

India:

Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Naman Ojha (wicket keeper), Stuart Binny, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.