Never before has an Indian team enjoyed such success in the emerald isles. As Dhoni looks to capture India's fifth consecutive ODI series, who can blame him for saying...

Dhoni and Co set for fifth consecutive ODI series win in Sri Lanka

Never before has an Indian team enjoyed such success in the emerald isles. As Dhoni looks to capture India's fifth consecutive ODI series, who can blame him for saying...

Don't be surprised if India coaches, who served in the late 1990s, sport a look of disbelief when told that India is on the verge of their fifth straight limited overs triumph in Sri Lanka.

For, during their tenure, winning in Sri Lanka was considered as difficult as stealing gold from Fort Knox. The Indian team of that period somehow just couldn't come to grips with the tough conditions in Sri Lanka and a formidable opposition led by Arjuna Ranatunga.u00a0

Praveen Kumar celebrates with teammates after picking up a New
Zealand wicket during the on-going tri-series in Sri Lanka. India play
the hosts in Saturday's final. PIC/AFP

Except for the Akai Nidahas Trophy triumph of 1998 under the Mohammed Azharuddin-Anshuman Gaekwad captain-coach combine, the Indian team hardly tasted success during that period. A combination of sluggish pitches, high humidity levels and an incisive attack led by Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, made Lanka a feared foe. Madan Lal, who as India's coach from 1996 to 1997 failed to break the Lanka jinx, is impressed with what Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys have achieved.

"Sri Lanka is a difficult place to play cricket and the performance of our team is creditable as the Lankans have a very good team," said Madan Lal.

"Winning overseas is always difficult. India used to win at home and were known as tigers here. Now, our teams have started winning outside too," stressed the 1983 World Cup hero.

Madan Lal attributed India's recent mastery of Lankan conditions to playing frequently there. "The conditions are similar to India and we have played a lot in Sri Lanka in the recent past," he said.

As for the current tri-series success, Madan Lal said: "Virender Sehwag is in very good form and the bowlers have also done well." He also advised changing the team for the final. "The loss to Lanka in the previous game will have no bearing. I would pick spinner R Ashwin and instead of Dinesh Karthik, I would try Rohit Sharma as opener. Since it is a final, it won't be fair to try out the young Saurabh Tiwary."