LONDON: In vastly different ways, these are unsettled times for both Indian and Sri Lankan cricket. In India, there is ongoing administrative upheaval. There is disquiet over the coach's position. Any day now, a decision on the
Anil Kumble issue may further consolidate captain
Virat Kohli and the team's say in the running of affairs. India's saving grace, however, has been the fact that Kohli has kept running a tight ship through this tsunami of administrative and inter-personal woes. This has ensured surprisingly smooth sailing on the field, where India's only problems have been the ones of plenty.
Riding on the back of a 124-run win against Pakistan, a win at the Oval on Thursday will give India a direct ride into the semifinals. Unlike the raging administrative storm outside, they look a settled, resolute outfit in the dressing room. In typically authoritative fashion, Kohli did talk about the fielding having been, at certain times, below standard in their opening
Champions Trophy game, but said he had "addressed that issue".
India, for a change, even boast one of the best bowling attacks around, a pleasant surprise even for the skipper himself ahead of what is expected to be a seamer-friendly pitch at the Oval. New Zealand and Bangladesh in the warm-up games, and Pakistan last Sunday, have all felt the full force of India's pacers. The most they have taken to bowl out an attack has been 38.4 overs.
"At the moment we are playing some smart cricket, but that doesn't mean we have the right to be arrogant," said Kohli on Wednesday. "In sport, anyone can upset anyone." The Lankans, meanwhile, are having more long-term problems on the field. Where do they find the replacements for the likes of
Kumar Sangakkara,
Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekaratne Dilshan?
Lasith Malinga too is an ageing warhorse, even though he is still capable of running through a side on his day.
To top it all, luck seems to have completely deserted the Lankans in this tournament. Angelo Mathews has been hastily brought back from a hamstring injury after opener and stand-in captain Upul Tharanga badly botched up the over-rate in the opening defeat to South Africa and copped a two-match ban.
Tharanga, incidentally, was also Lanka's highest scorer in that game with a 69-ball 57. On match eve, Chamara Kapugedara seemed to have done his knee in while field-ing. If he cannot take the field, Dhanushka Gunathilake is likely to take his place.
"People want India to come in and thrash us, and it's just all the pressure off us. We are happy to walk in as the underdogs. We just have to go out there, just express ourselves and be aggressive. That is our brand of cricket, being aggressive and positive," said Mathews, who will play as a bats-man only. "Our over-rate (the other day) was pathetic."
Mathews seemed to be only half-joking when he said he wanted Kumar Sangakkara back for this tournament. "We are in transition. Every day we are learning," he added. A win here will be huge for Lankan cricket. India, who are likely to go in with an unchanged side, will want to keep the fires burning ahead of the tougher South Africa clash.
The weather, for once, is expected to hold, with only a 40 per cent chance of rain.