The five-match one-day series is fast turning out to be a flat out contest between batsmen. The batting-friendly wickets and lightning-fast outfields that were provided in Rajkot and Nagpur have just added to their convenience. Virender Sehwag, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan have been in superb touch and their contributions have played a significant role in deciding the outcome of the first two matches.
Of them Dilshan and Dhoni have had a super 2009. While Dilshan has a staggering 930 runs to his name in 16 One-day Internationals at a strike-rate of 104.14 with four hundreds and two fifties, Dhoni, with a fighting 107 on Friday equalled Ricky Ponting as the highest run-getter this year. Both have 1198 runs and Dhoni (28 ties) has played a match less.
The India skipper, who is banned for the next two matches will have to wait till Delhi to get past Ponting, who does not have a scope to add to his total. Australia’s one-day series against the West Indies is scheduled for February.
“This year I have batted at all positions from No. 3 to No. 7. I have promoted myself every time we needed to get runs quickly and it’s good in the sense that it has added to my experience. I feel batsmen should have the experience of playing anywhere in the order and that way they will know how difficult it is for batsmen who come down the order to quickly get into the groove and start scoring right away,” Dhoni said. He felt the batting powerplay has helped batsmen lower down the order. “With the field restrictions due to the new powerplay rule, middle and lower-order batsmen too have a good chance to get a big score.”
For Dilshan getting to open the innings has changed his approach to batting. “Now I tell myself that I have to stay at the crease for 40-45 overs. I know if I stay runs will come,” Dilshan, who was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory in Nagpur where the visitors went in without Sanath Jayasuriya, said.
{{/usCountry}}For Dilshan getting to open the innings has changed his approach to batting. “Now I tell myself that I have to stay at the crease for 40-45 overs. I know if I stay runs will come,” Dilshan, who was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory in Nagpur where the visitors went in without Sanath Jayasuriya, said.
{{/usCountry}}“Dilshan has nicely fitted into Sanath’s role and young Upul (Tharanga) has been very consistent. The two of them have given us good starts so far and the selectors have decided to continue with the duo for this series. Dilshan is doing what Sanath used to do for us exceedingly well,” Mahela Jayawardene said, when asked why Jayasuriya was brought back to the middle order in the first match in Rajkot.
Skipper Sangakkara was all praise for the opener. “Dilshan is probably playing the best cricket of his life at the moment.”
Dhoni agreed: “Dilshan keeps attacking and it is difficult to control him. He can cut, pull and go over the top at will. But we have to try and keep him guessing all the time.”