Litmus test for India

Port of Spain, Trinidad: India's reputed batting line-up will go through a strong litmus test by the Sri Lankan bowlers today at the Queen's Park Oval.

The stage is set for an exciting battle between the bat and the ball and Indian batsmen will have to rise to the challenge if they need to post a good total.

The Sri Lankan pace attack, led by Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof, backed by spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, is capable of tarnishing reputations.

Although India has played this attack before and won many matches against them, they will have to apply themselves to the hilt today.

The wicket at the Queen's Park Oval seems to have lost its bite. Bermuda and Bangladesh realised that one may not be able to run through the batting by putting the opposition in to bat after winning the toss.

Good start

India will aim for a good start. With Robin Uthappa having failed in both the matches, a new opening pair will walk in for India.

It is being speculated that Sachin Tendulkar might open, but there is also talk that Virender Sehwag, who seems to have regained his form with a century, may open with Sourav Ganguly.

Whether Sehwag's innings against Bermuda was a false message or whether he really regain his form will only be known during his knock against Sri Lanka.

"We know that we need to win against Sri Lanka if we have to reach the Super Eight stage. So we will go full out for it," assured Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain.

By losing their first match to Bangladesh, India has made things difficult for themselves. It still goes beyond reason as to how such a strong Indian team, studded with experienced players, could lose to Bangladesh. And it is that very defeat that has given hope to the Sri Lankans.

Toothless attack

They find the Indian batting vulnerable to spirited performances. India did score a World Cup record against Bermuda but Sri Lanka's attack is among the best in the world.

Their batting has also been impressive so far in the World Cup with their top-order batsmen scoring runs in both their matches.

But the Indian bowling has struggled in both their matches. In fact, Bermuda with just one professional batsman, hung on for 43.1 overs.

Cricket lovers in Trinidad and Tobago expect the India-Sri Lanka match to be one of the best matches of the World Cup.

ENDGAME
If India want to qualify to the Super Eight ...

- It has to just beat Sri Lanka without any concern for net run-rate. Both teams will have four points. Moreover, by this India will go to the next round carrying forward two points.

- Bangladesh should win their last encounter with Bermuda and they too will finish with four points. Bangladesh with -2.00 have a virtually impossible task to overtake India in the net run-rate (NRR).

- If India beat Sri Lanka narrowly, the NRR before the Bangladesh-Bermuda game will be as follows: Sri Lanka 3.014; India 1.676; Bangladesh -2.002.

- Assuming Bangladesh trash Bermuda, the former still will not be able to overtake India's NRR of 1.676 unless they do the impossible of batting first and scoring 450 and then restricting Bermuda to just 16 runs!

- However if Bermuda bats first then Bangladesh cannot under any circumstances overtake India's NRR even if Bermuda are all out for zero!!

- If there is a tie between Sri Lanka and India, and Bangladesh beat Bermuda, the points will be: Sri Lanka 5; Bangladesh 4; India 3. Then India can return home with Pakistan!

- Compiled by Mohandas Menon