SA on mind, India face Lanka challenge

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Nov 23

“UNFORTUNATELY, we get only two days before our flight to South Africa and we have no choice but to be in game situation and think of what’s coming ahead for us. Had we got a month off, ideally, (then) we would have done a proper preparation in camp sort of a scenario. But we have to make do with what we have, as usual cramped for time which I think we need to assess in future as well.”
The statement by Indian captain Virat Kohli on the eve of the second Test against Sri Lanka at VCA Jamtha, showed the mindset the hosts are even as they are in middle of a challenge from their neighbours.
India are set to leave for South Africa two days after this Sri Lanka series ends on December 24. With only a couple of days’ gap for SA tour, Kohli and Company are using this series as a ‘preparatory camp’ for a much more difficult tour ahead.
Come Friday, India’s ‘preparation’ would move into the second gear.
With the request of the home team management fulfilled, the Jamtha wicket, with a tinge of green, would definitely force teams to ponder upon using three seamers. 
However, Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal has a different take on the wicket. “It doesn’t have grass as compared to the Eden Gardens wicket,” Chandimal said. This would make the selection interesting for both teams.
After managing to gain ascendancy despite being under pressure for first two days in Kolkata, India would take that confidence into the second Test. However, with Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, both vital cogs in the first Test, not part of the squad the team management will have to select the best replacements.
Dhawan’s absence has opened way for Murali Vijay. He will be an able ally to KL Rahul who is having a dream season. With nine half centuries from 11 innings, the Karnataka batsman would love to convert them into big ones and gain confidence ahead of South Africa tour.
Kohli needs no citation. He played an entertaining knock in the second innings at Kolkata but it was Cheteshwar Pujara who stood tall among ruins, facing Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage to score a fighting 52. At Jamtha, he will be once again the man holding India’s innings in case of a collapse. Ajinkya Rahane adds solidity to the middle-order.
In absence of Bhuvneshwar the responsibility of turning up falls on local boy Umesh Yadav. At the nets on Thursday, Umesh bowled with a heavily strapped right elbow but Kohli dismissed any fitness problem. If India go with three seamers then Umesh will have to share the ball with Mohd Shami and Ishant Sharma.
Shami would be very effective on the Jamtha track, which has a good carry. Ishant has made the most of the time playing Ranji for Delhi.
For Lanka, the good work of first three days in Kolkata should act as a booster. Their fragile batting was exposed on the last day where bad light saved them but here it would be a fresh challenge. 
Middle-order batsmen left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews and captain Chandimal have runs under their belt. They would hope to carry the momentum here at Jamtha, where India have lost only one Test to South Africa in 2010.