“I am confident that it’s not just going to be spinner-friendly wickets and I guess it will have to be a combined effort from all the bowlers”, said Bangalore-based Kumble on Saturday, on the eve of his 25th anniversary of his Test debut – against England at Manchester in 1990.
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“India are also in a transition period and it’s up to Virat Kohli to take the responsibility to guide youngsters”. But they always make into semis in all the finals. And proper by way of these center years that they had Muttiah Muralitharan who was an enormous affect. Of course, you might have Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara coming in after that, however once more Murali was the principal man as it’s about taking 20 wickets. “With the dew on the wicket there was a bit of turn and the Indian spinners exploited it nicely”. One will have to work harder to get wickets.
Despite the pitch showing signs of dryness while it was out for a little while in the sun yesterday, three pacers look to be the way forward.
India’s start wasn’t half as impressive as Rahul and Rohit were sent back early by Dhammika Prasad and Mathews.
Ashwin said the two early wickets taken by seamers Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron, which reduced Sri Lanka to 2-15, made his work easier.
Thirimanne and Sangakkara fended off the fast bowlers with relative ease, although they were beaten outside the off-stump on a couple of occasions. Angelo Matthews is a cool, calm, soft-spoken cricketer who never gets hot under the collar. We played together only in the IPL and this is worldwide match.
Angelo Mathews: It looks pretty dry, so we want to put the runs on the board and put pressure on them. Dhawan (53*) and Kohli (45*) were unbeaten at stumps and will resume India’s innings on Thursday.
Ashwin then came into the party with three quick wickets as he bowled unchanged from the City End.
“We decided that if a loose ball comes, we would go after it. We tried to recreate a ODI match feeling”.
Speaking on wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, Shastri said: “Saha is a very good player and he might have got out cheaply but he has got the temperament to score runs”. The middle order seems neat with Kohli, Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan and Rahane clinching on the scoreboard total.
“I have been reminded of that quite a few times and I know that now”, he said, about India’s poor record.
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Vijay, 31, sustained the injury in Zimbabwe during India’s recent limited-over series there and did not bat in either innings of India’s only warm-up match ahead of the Galle Test that begins tomorrow.
