We totally expected India to lose this game. Helpful seam bowling conditions and India went into the match with just 2 fast bowlers. Admittedly, the other fast bowlers were injured and India did quite well to restrict SL to 257 in 50 overs but a third fast bowler would have made all the difference.
This game reinforces what we have said before: INDIA DOESN'T NEED TWO SPINNERS FOR THE WORLD CUP. Though both Kumble and Harbhajan did quite well they did not look threatening in the least. Sangakkara and Dilshan played them with aplomb and kept the scoreboard ticking. After everything was said and done, India let SL off the hook after they had them reeling at 58 for 4. All credit to Sangakkara. His hundred was fantastic and he took his side to a defendable total. On an aside, is world cricket seeing the advent of great wicket-keeping batsmen? We have four excellent wicket-keeping batsmen right now in Sangakkara, Gilchrist, Boucher and Dhoni. On a good day, Kamran Akmal can be added to that group.
We are beginning to lose our excitement about Robin Uthappa. Is he a poor man's Sehwag? who in turn is a poor man's Tendulkar? does that mean that Robin Uthapppa is a poverty stricken man's Tendulkar? So many questions and so little time...
Ganguly and Tendulkar saw to the rebuilding of the innings after Robin Uthappa and Dravid fell cheaply (29 for 2) and put together 100 runs for the third wicket. As we said here, Tendulkar's role in this team is to be the "fix-it" guy and to a certain extent he failed his role by not seeing India through after doing all the hard work.
India were at 129 for 3 in 23.2 overs when Tendulkar fell. So, they needed another 129 runs in 26.4 overs and with Sehwag, Dhoni, Karthik and Ganguly still around, one would think it would be a walk in the park.
Sehwag walked into a perfect scenario. The wicket had eased off and the asking run rate was low with plenty of wickets in the bank. All Sehwag had to do was put a premium on his wicket and stay at the crease and the prodigal son would make a hero's return into the team. Needless to say, Sehwag eschewed this perfect scenario, not for him the tailor-made hero's welcome, he would do things his way; so he promptly got out.
So, it fell to Dhoni and Karthik to see India home. They couldn't and India lost. Sri Lanka rested Muralitharan and Vaas and they still looked great. If Sri Lanka are really this resilient, they have a pretty good chance to be crowned world champions.
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