A Sri Lankan winter?

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 12

Around noon, the gloomy surroundings at the PCA Stadium brightened up a little. For the first time in the day, the sun, though pale, managed to shine through dark clouds. Daljit Singh, the pitch curator, also cheered up a little, for few would know better than him the significance of sunlight while preparing a wicket in cold and wet conditions. The forecast for tomorrow — partly cloudy, possibility of thunder and lightning — will also have him a little concerned. A little moisture in the wicket, especially in overcast conditions, could make batting an extremely tough preposition, just like it was in Dharamsala.

Given the conditions and the forecast, India opener Shikhar Dhawan probably sensed the wicket won't be easy to bat on, especially the drives. Maybe that's way he opted to polish his pulls and cuts with the tennis ball at the nets. 

Rahane conundrum

Apart from the weather and wicket, the other point of interest would be the composition of the Indian team, especially what the team management decides to do with Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane had to sit out the first ODI at Dharamsala, although the conditions demanded his inclusion in the side. Going by stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma’s explanation for his exclusion – he said Rahane was in the side purely as an opener – it’s highly unlikely that Rahane would feature in the playing XI tomorrow as well, unless the Indian think tank had a rethink on their rather stringent policy regarding Rahane.

Rahane of course had a poor run in the just concluded Test series, but he has been doing quite well in the ODIs. In the ODIs against Australia before the Lanka series, he smashed four half-centuries at the top of the order. Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera made no attempt to hide his smile when asked if they were surprised by Rahane’s omission. “I can’t comment much on it except that he’s a good player,” said the Lankan skipper.

Lanka’s big moment

As for Sri Lanka, they find themselves in a rather unusual situation.  Having gone winless against India for a while now, the Lankans have not only snapped the losing streak but also they are just a win away from wrapping up the three-match series. It’s a situation not many would have imagined to see the Lankans in against the rampaging Indian side. “It is a good opportunity to win the series. Not many teams have won a series in India,” said Perera. The Lankan skipper said the prospect of a series win wasn’t putting any pressure on his side. “There’s no pressure. It’s just another game for us. Everyone knows if we win tomorrow, we will win the series. We will give our 200 per cent, the skipper said.

Kaul’s debut?

Will local boy Siddarth Kaul make his debut tomorrow? For Kaul to make the playing XI, India will need to drop either of the two spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Given that conditions are likely to be conducive to pace bowling, Kaul could get a chance. But if India could overlook the conditions in Rahane’s case, it could be much easier in Kaul’s case. Nevertheless, Kaul would be hoping to get his India cap at his home ground.

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Mohali numbers

154*  By Virat Kohli is the highest individual score in an ODI at the venue, made against New Zealand in 2016 

5/21 Is the best bowling analysis at the ground, by Makhaya Ntini against Pakistan in 2006

351 Is the highest team score here, by South Africa against the Netherlands in 2011

366 Runs by Sachin Tendulkar, in 7 innings, is the record for most runs by a batsman at the venue

14 Times the team batting first has won here, while 9 ODis were won by the team batting second. The last four ODIs here were won by the team batting second

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ODIs in Mohali

India have played 14 ODIs at Mohali, winning 9 and losing 5. India have won 4 of their last 5 ODIs at this venue. India’s record against key opponents:

Opponent Played Ind won

Australia 4 2

Pakistan 3 3

England 2 1

8 Times India have batted first at Mohali, winning 4 of those matches

6 Times India have batted second at the venue, winning 5 times

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Ind vs SL at Mohali

India have played Sri Lanka once at the venue, back in 2005. Sri Lanka batted first and were bowled out for 122 in 35.4 overs, and India chased down the target in 20.2 overs