After an easy outing against Bangladesh on Wednesday, India's biggest challenge against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup clash today will centre around pacer Lasith Malinga
India's Ajinkya Rahane en route his 73 against Bangladesh in Fatullah on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
Fatullah: Having beaten Bangladesh comfortably on Wednesday night in their Asia Cup opener, Team India chose to take it easy yesterday.
India's Ajinkya Rahane en route his 73 against Bangladesh in Fatullah on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
The players spent their time in the gym and the swimming pool after which two team meetings – one comprising batsmen and the other comprising bowlers – were held. Discussions centred around what India need to do in order to overcome Sri Lanka, their opponents in today's game.
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Ajinkya Rahane, who hit 73 against the hosts, had said after the win: "Obviously it's very important for us. Great momentum at the start of the series, and we're just looking forward to the coming matches now."
That is something India will be looking to continue in their key game today, but it will not be easy given that Lanka will provide a far stiffer challenge. What's more, Angelo Mathews' men would be better equipped to tackle the conditions since they have been here for more than a month and beaten Bangladesh in the Test and ODI series.
Stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, who hit 136 in the previous game, will once again be the man to look out for but the Lankans are not overtly concerned. Vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal said: "India have some really good players but we got bowlers like (Lasith) Malinga. So we will see.
"We are also doing well at the moment. Everyone in both batting and bowling departments are in good form."
Paceman Malinga's match winning 5-52 against Pakistan had given them a winning start and Chandimal said they would look to take early wickets to expose the inexperience Indian middle order without MS Dhoni. "With Dhoni not in the middle-order we might be in a good chance if we can take early wickets."
> Team India spend time in gym and swimming pool
> India have some good players, but we have got Malinga: Chandimal
Live on TV
India vs Sri Lanka on Star Sports 1, 3, HD 1 and DD National; 13:30
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