Can Dravid rekindle his magic at Dambulla?

Dravid is the only Indian to feature in top 10 list of batsmen at the stadium, writes Sunit Kaul.

The battle is hotting up. The war cry has begun. Rahul Dravid will be leading India in his first full series starting on Saturday against Lanka at Dambulla.

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The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium will be hosting India for the third time. The first one was a piece of cake against UAE in the Asia Cup 2004, India winning by 116 runs. The second one against Lanka in the same tournament though, proved to be a humdinger with India losing by just 12 runs.

In this encounter, chasing a target of 283, India was in a miserable position of 71/4. But Dravid (82) and Yuvraj Singh (47) built up a stunning fifth wicket partnership, taking the team's total past 200. But India fell just 12 runs short of the target the Lankans had set.

Saturday Forecast 81°F (27°C) | 74°F (23°C)

Sri Lanka has the record of making the highest score of Rangiri Dambulla Stadium (282/4) against India followed 262/6 by Australia. In both those day-nighters, the Wall was in a blistering mood, stroking a masterful 104 not out in the first followed by an equally comparable 84.

Interestingly, he's the only Indian batsman to feature in the top 10 list of batters at Dambulla, that too with only two matches. Rahul Dravid's 104 is now the highest individual score at the Dambulla International Stadium. The previous highest was 93 by Australian opener Matthew Hayden vs Sri Lanka on 22-02-2004.

Dravid's ODI career batting averages
M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	St
252	231	28	8134	13	40.06	10	59	153	14

Dravid also got his eighth man of the match award here.

But the question here arises is whether he can repeat his performances donning the 'skipper's cap' when the matches get underway.

The biggest threat of course - compared to which even the crowd pressure will feel microscopic - will come from the rotating right-arm of Muttiah Muralitharan. Indian team will be looking to see him off, taking the attack to the other bowlers. 

Records of the new Indian Skipper

Rahul Dravid: Captain' ODI Records
ODI Debut	Against Sri Lanka at Singapore on April 3, 1996
Captaincy Record	Played 12, won 5, lost 6, No Result 1
As Batsman-captain	Matches 12, Innings 11, Runs 368, Highest 86, Average 33.45, 50s 3
As Wicket Keeper	Matches 73, Innings 64, Runs 2,300, Highest 145, Average 44.23, 100s 3

However, wily Murali is not a bowler, which the opposition can play defensively too. The only positive aspect, which Dravid will be keeping an eye on, would be the weather on Saturday.

With light showers and cloudy sky forecast for Dambulla, the pitch in turn could cut his guile and deception by half.

With Murali breathing down Indian batters' throat and the crowd right behind him, Will de-Bono and other 'lateral-thinking' ideas bail DravidDravid at that time or will we again crumble under the grind?

New coach Greg Chappell and Indian cricket fans would be spending their days and nights now, thinking precisely on that point. The mystery will reveal itself on Saturday.