Sri Lankan team cricket team will be playing a Test in India after a long gap of 9 years, still, they haven’t won a single Test in India. However, in recent times, only Australia managed to win a Test in India. The on-field precision from a consistent Team India under the leadership of Virat Kohli enjoyed a purple patch in the home season of 2016/17 when they came really close to matching the success rate of the Australian side of 2005/06.
the Islanders also faced some demoralization against the same opposition of 3-0 series defeat at home just three months back. Dinesh Chandimal’s Sri Lanka were made to look foot-travelers in their own vicinities, thus highlighting the huge gulf in quality between the no.1 Test squad and the one standing at seventh then.
But, the fortunes of the Sri Lankan team took a turn in UAE. Sandwiched between two sets of three Tests against India, came a successful Test tour of Pakistan’s den, where they outplayed the hosts comprehensively in all the departments. They had batsmen to keep Yasir Shah quite, fast bowlers to beat Mohammad Amir & Co. If anything, it gave Sri Lanka a confidence before heading to the land of their thoroughly ruthless neighbours, and a reason to believe it truly can only get better from hereon.
Yet, it has been a year of absolute below-par performances on the field for Sri Lanka, while also being accompanied by some unwanted behind-the-scenes mishappenings. And because of that, the expectations from the tour haven’t been set too high.
Meanwhile, the Indian team is operating in a completely different universe, where the biggest challenge seems to be arising from competition for various positions in the team. “IF” the rain stays away in Kolkata for the first couple of days – Kohli & his men should be well on course to extend India’s unbeaten streak in Tests over Sri Lanka at home.
Pitch and Weather conditions
The eve of the match saw a long spell of brisk showers, and the overcast conditions remain similar for the first and second days of the game to follow. While considering the pitch, it has been expected that there will be true bounce and carry on the greenish surface in Kolkata as it appears India is preparing for the big away tour of South Africa in January.
The Eden surface had already undergone a change after being redeveloped, as the previously spin-friendly track has changed its honesty towards the pacers, as evidenced in the Test against New Zealand in 2016 where pacers picked 26 of the 40 wickets to fall. Even the ODI against Australia this year saw the fast bowlers leading the attack. On both these occasions, Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood to gain the most (five-fer in the Test and figures of 3 for 9 in 6.1 overs in the ODI).
Interesting facts
– R Ashwin requires eight more scalps in the series to become the fastest to 300 Test wickets. Ashwin has 292 scalps from 52 Tests and the current record holder is Dennis Lillee who reached there in 56 Tests.
– Dimuth Karunaratne needs 60 more runs to become the second Sri Lankan opener after Sanath Jayasuriya (in 1997 & 2004) to aggregate 1000 runs in a calendar year. He has scored 940 runs at 47 with three centuries and three half-centuries.
– Herath averages 45.97 in 9 Tests against India – the highest for him against any opponent (13 more than the next worst). It is the only side against whom he concedes at over three (3.33).
– If KL Rahul scores a fifty in his next outing, he will become the first player to hit eight successive 50-plus scores in Tests. He currently shares the record with Everton Weekes, A Flower, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara and Chris Rogers.
Virat Kohli has already confirmed the opening pair of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan which automatically makes Murali Vijay warm the bench, but still, changes might be made before the start of the game. Based on how the two training sessions prior to the game have gone, it looks likely that Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take up the spot vacated by Hardik Pandya.
On the other hand, Dinesh Chandimal also gave a hint of going with a five-bowler combination. That also served well in the trying weather conditions of UAE. Now in India, Sri Lanka arrive with a perplexity. Revert to four and add an extra batsman to resist India’s bowling attack or stick to five, particularly on a green top.
There’s a chance that the Islanders will stick to the five bowlers in Kolkata. Along with two spinners in Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera, they could either go with 3 pacers with Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Gamage or bring in all-rounder Dasun Shanaka which would also add to their batting.
Probable XIs
India: Shikhar Dhawan/Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav.
Sri Lanka: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Dasun Shanaka/Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath.
