India ready for President’s men

Considering the current scenario, winning a Test series against a formidable side like Sri Lanka in their own backyard is like stealing food from the lion’s den.
It’s not mission impossible, but it undoubtedly demands a lot of planning and then executing it by the right people. The Indian team will be aiming for precisely that as it begins the tour with a three-day match against a Sri Lanka Board XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club on Friday.
To realize the dream, though, it has to first get its combination right. So the big question right now is: 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers or the more dynamic 6-5. The team management may have already found its answer but it’s not revealing it as yet.
One thing is sure though: it wants to give match practice to all the Test specialists, especially those who haven’t played One-day cricket for some time now. “We have decided that to play the Test specialists for the match to provide them with ample match practice,’’ India’s coach Gary Kirsten said after a regulation practice session.
On the bowling front, it is certain that India will have two spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Then Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are more or less certain to make the cut.
Incidentally, both seem to be bowling superbly in the nets. Zaheer, who is coming back after a long lay-off, is immaculate with his length and line while Ishant has been quick and bang on target.
The big muddle: Will it be a third pacer who will fill the slot for the fifth bowler? It will be a tough nut to crack and the form shown by bowlers in this match will probably be the deciding factor.
On the other hand, Kirsten is quite satisfied with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha’s recent form. “Pragyan has impressed me in the One-dayers. He is good and he should be ready to throw himself into the ring as and when it is required. If suppose there is an injury, I am confident that he will fit into our scheme of things,’’ Kirsten said.
After all, even Kumble and Harbhajan have had a long break after the IPL season. So, the spin duo will be keen to get its rhythm right. The choice for the third pacer is between RP Singh and Munaf Patel and, according to team sources, the former has a brighter chance of making it to the XI. “We have to decide on two things before we start our practice match on Friday,’’ the Indian coach conceded, without going into further details.
In the absence of MS Dhoni, Kumble can turn to either Dinesh Karthik or Parthiv Patel. In the nets, though, when the slip catchers were honing their skills, it was Karthik who was made to wear his gloves ahead of Patel. Does this drop a hint? Probably. But in a long tour anything can happen.
From the Board President’s point of view, there are a couple of cricketers, including Jehan Mubarak, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva and Chamara Kapugedera, who would be keen to prove a point.
The teams: India XI: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel.
Sri Lanka Board President’s XI: Mahela Udawatte, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak (capt), Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushal Silva (wk), Chanaka Welagedera, Sujeewa Silva, Dammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando.