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Time to test the bench strength
India ought not to drop its guard against Sri Lanka in an academic tie in the Asia Cup on Tuesday. They ought to demonstrate that if they could lose successive matches in a multilateral tournament, they could also sweep everything in sight, writes Ravi Shastri.
India ought not to drop its guard against Sri Lanka in an academic tie in the Asia Cup on Tuesday. They ought to demonstrate that if they could lose successive matches in a multilateral tournament, they could also sweep everything in sight. They have a reputation to mend and what better way to do it than against a team which soured their campaign in West Indies and Zimbabwe early this year.
Sri Lanka is a fine side, more so in home conditions. In what looks like a post-Jayasuriya era, the team has many fine youngsters making their marks. Angelo Matthews and Suraj Randiv come readily to mind. They also, at the moment, appear a better fielding side than both Pakistan and India.
Dhoni’s men have had an outstanding campaign so far but questions abound. Virender Sehwag’s injury is a blow as is the mixed bag from faster bowlers. Gautam Gambhir is a man possessed but there is still lack of big stands from the top order. The skipper promoting himself up the order was a master-stroke against Pakistan but India now need to press on the pedal. Others must now pull their weight.
It would give India a huge boost to realise they have won under the lights. The players have been openly critical of the floodlights. That men from the winning camps such as Lasith Malinga and Gautam Gambhir have given vent to their frustration ought to be taken seriously.
True, Dambulla has hosted day-night games all along with these very eight light towers yet the opinion of the men in the middle must count for something.
An alert India doesn’t mean it should be excessively on guard. It needs to develop its bench strength and a ripe opportunity has now presented itself for Tuesday. Saurabh Tiwary, R. Ashwin and Ashok Dinda must be brought in the mix. They must be trotted out in international arena and allowed to earn their stripes.
It has been an unchanged side in the first two games and this now is a ripe moment to experiment. If India were to win this Asia Cup, it would set the wheels rolling for the 2011 World Cup. The key would be to have a bigger bench strength. The rehabilitation of Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth and RP Singh is a necessity.
A bigger bunch of batsmen and bowlers would keep everybody on toes and lead to better performance.
