Asia Cup: India looking to make a fresh start against Sri Lanka
Having suffered humiliation in the tour of Australia, India will look to make a fresh start when they face Sri Lanka in their opening match of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Tuesday.
While India made an early exit from the tri-series in Australia, Sri Lanka gave a tough fight to the hosts in the three-match finals.
Though India enjoyed a better record over Sri Lanka in the tournament, Mahela Jayawardene’s boys are riding high on confidence after their good show in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia. India beat Sri Lanka twice, and lost and tied one each.
But back in the sub-continent things would even out for both the teams.
India will be missing swashbuckling batsman Virender Sehwag and pacers Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, who have been rested for the tournament.
But the Pathan brothers, Irfan and Yusuf, are back in the side together, after a long time. While Irfan made his return to international cricket after two years late in 2011, his elder brother Yusuf will be looking to play his first ODI match since June 2011.
Bengal’s young prolific batsman Manoj Tiwary will also be in with a chance. Selected for the Australia tour, the middle-order batsman failed to get even a single game. The last time Tiwary donned India’s colours he hit an unbeaten century against West Indies in Chennai, December 2011.
Pacer Ashok Dinda too will be hoping for a call-up to the starting eleven after an impressive showing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Sri Lanka will be on a high after their good show in the ODI series in Australia. Dinesh Chandimal and Thisara Perera were the key members of a young side that took Australia down to the wire in the best-of-three finals.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan were excellent at the top of the order and will look to continue their good form. Last time Dilshan played India, he smashed an unbeaten 160 at Hobart. India though thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets, chasing down a target of 321 in 36.4 overs.