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India coach Gary Kirsten advises opener Virat Kohli during a practice session ahead of the second one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Dambulla yesterday. PICS/AP |
But anyone can misread a pitch. It has happened often enough to some of the greatest of captains in the game's history.
Now Dhoni is faced with sort of conundrum that he may not enjoy the second time around.
That is if he should win the toss again, and learning from Monday's eight-wicket ODI defeat against Sri Lanka in the five-match Idea Cup series, whether to bat or bowl first on the newly prepared pitch at Rangiri Stadium here for the second game today.
Breeze factor
There is a large lake fronting the south-west of the ground and the breeze off the spread of water is strong enough to have wind-surfing events of an international stature.
It is the breeze that creates a rather special modus operandi similar to the Test venue in Galle. But it helps the swing bowlers, even more so and there is sideways movement off the pitch as well.
As it is India have little history at the venue: the Asia Cup in 2004 and the triangular that involved West Indies
as well as their hosts in 2005.
Three years is a lengthy gap and as most of the Indian players are new to the venue, the value of experience is important, especially as the games being played here this time are day games.
Moisture
On Monday, there was a lot more moisture in the conditions than even Sri Lanka expected and the early loss of opener Gautam Gambhir didn't aid India's cause. It led to Jayawardene utilising his seam and swing trio of Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kalusekara and Thushara Mirando until the 19th over when he introduced Ajantha Mendis in to the attack for the first time.
Seamer-friendly
In a game as short as 50 overs, that is quite a delay for someone who is looked on as Sri Lanka's match winner this series.
The pitch for the second game is two strips to the east of Monday's pitch and a close look at it yesterday did suggest it could help the seamers early on again.
This might suggest India will look at the six-five plan and shuffle the order around.
But it is the condition of the pitch for the second game that is going be the big mystery and it is here where whoever bats first could well face the same problems they did on Monday.
LIVE ON TV
India vs Sri Lanka,
2nd ODI: Ten Sports, 10 am
