With the one-day cricket series tantalisingly poised at 1-1,
India`s ability to perform in a crunch situation will be tested when they go
into the series decider against Sri Lanka on Saturday without the services of
Sachin Tendulkar. 
Tendulkar, who had shown glimpses of his vintage form in this
series, has been rested because of a stiff back to ensure that he is fully fit
before the World Cup.
A victory in the crucial game will no doubt serve as a morale
booster for the Indians before they embark on the journey to the West Indies
for the March-April World Cup.
After the shock five-run defeat in the second game in Rajkot, the hosts were
far more convincing to record a comfortable five-wicket victory in the third
match in Margao and level the four-match series.
But despite the improved show, the prolonged form slump of
Virender Sehwag has become a worrying factor for the home team and captain
Rahul Dravid, who has backed him to the hilt, would be hoping that the
Delhi swashbuckler hits form in the important tie.
Sehwag has been going through an extremely lean patch and the
team management has tried everything to help him find the touch that had made
him one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket.
Barring Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh to some extent, most
of the other Indian batsmen have got runs under their belt and would be in a
positive frame of mind when they go in to bat on what appears to be a good batting
strip.
It was still not clear whether paceman Irfan Pathan, who sat out of the first
three matches of the series because of a sore shoulder, had regained full fitness.
Even if the out-of-from bowler has recovered, the team management may not take
the risk of fielding him for the decider.
India and Sri Lanka are clubbed in the same group for the World
Cup and both teams will be seeking to gain some psychological advantage by winning
the match that is expected to attract a capacity crowd.
India should not face any difficulty in making the World Cup
second stage with the other teams in Group-B being Bangladesh and Bermuda.
Yet a win over Sri Lanka will give the team vital points to carry forward.
The bowlers, particularly Zaheer Khan, have done a commendable
job sticking to a tidy line and length but Indian openers have been a little
unpredictable.
Opener Robin Uthappa will get another chance to play
on Saturday and the top order should show character and discipline.
Sri Lanka has a formidable batting line-up and it would be
out to prove that its dramatic collapse against India in Goa was just an aberration.
Sanath Jayasuriya with his experience can be depended upon to give another
fiery start along with Upul Tharanga. Mahela Jayawardene, Marvan Atapattu, Russel
Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillekaratne Dilshan have all made useful contributions
with the bat and they will need to fire in unison on Saturday.
Statistically, Indian team has an edge over number of wins
having defeated the Sri Lankans on 48 occasions in 93 matches, including 24
times against ten (two no result) in Indian soil.
In neutral venues too, India lead the table with 15 wins against seven by the
Sri Lankans.
Teams:
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sourav Ganguly, Robin Uthappa,
Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Kaarthick, Ajit
Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble
and S Sreesanth.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya,
Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Tillekaratne
Dilshan, Farveez Maharoof, Upul Chandana, Chamara Silva, Malinga Bandara, Lasith
Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa and Nuwan Kulasekara.
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