India Vs Sri Lanka: Analysis for Second Test in Nagpur

Nov 22, 2017 at 8:35 PM

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India Vs Sri Lanka: Analysis for Second Test in Nagpur

When we talk about the Test cricket it’s all about stamina and set of skills professional players possessed and they further have had been banking strength and conditioning in the gentleman’s game while aiming for the long-run.

As the Test matches in the past had unfolded many events like a fascinating fiction book with each chapter engrossing the avid readers, further saw scripting hard-fought wins in the dying hours of the final day’s play, but for India, it was the bad light that put on the curtains to India-Sri Lanka series opener last week when hosts’ seam bowlers ripped apart the batting line-up of Lions.

As the spectacular final session at Eden Gardens is still afresh to the minds, the formidable India’s fast-bowling department would be aiming to replicate what they did to Sri Lanka led by Dinesh Chandimal on the fifth and final day, before bad light forced the result to be considered as the drawn fixture after on-field umpires removed stumps from the groove.

However, after the remarkable show with the ball in the first innings by Lankan bowlers particularly Suranga Lakmal, India as a buoyant force returned to put a decent total on the board which saw skipper Virat Kohli leading from the front to register his 18th Test hundred in his 61st Test.

India Vs Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli, Nagpur Test, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Chandimal
First Test sprung even after fast two days were affected by inclement weather. Photo Credit: BCCI.

(Read Also: India’s Predicted XI for the Second Test)

The dramatic end to the first Test of the three-match series has further put the Islanders on the backfoot even after visitors gave a good fight on the surface which subsequently helped the fast bowlers right from the word go after Chandimal opted to bowl first.

As the   Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur is reportedly expected to help the fast bowlers which would definitely bring experienced campaigners under the spotlight, as visitors are struggling with the set of bowlers even after the spectacular show from Lakmal in Kolkata.

With lot expected to be thrown on the plate, the Nagpur surface has been traditionally a ranking turner which straightaway instilled confidence among the spinners.

However, as Indian team is bound to play a gruelling series against South Africa starting in January 2018, it’s expected the pitches would be more helpful for the pace bowlers which eventually could be the preparation process for the hosts, before flying to the African continent.

On the other side, Lankan team is also keen to give their best in a bid to salvage some pride after 3-0 Test loss back home early this year.

India wants to dominate straightaway:

India Vs Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli, Nagpur Test, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Chandimal
Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked four wickets each in both Kolkata Test. Photo Credit: BCCI.

(Read Further: IND Vs SL 2017: Team India’s Quest For a Number Six Batsman)

The hosts have been outstanding both with the bat and a ball and they are working hard in nets to take the lead while relying on their performances.

In the previous fixture, the fast bowlers in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami bowled their heart out after first two days were marred by the inclement weather before the sun came out to see hosts put on the significant amount on the board.

As the hosts top-order were among runs in the second innings, the middle-order would be focusing to play an imperative part against a bowling line-up which is less experienced in the contemporary cricket when it comes to the multi-format fixtures.

It’s highly-likely that spin specialists in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin could bowl the most number of overs in Nagpur after pace bowlers stole the show at iconic Eden Gardens.

Once again, Kohli would be a main to watch out for with KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan looking settled at the top to pile-up the misery for the lions.

Far more impressive Umesh Yadav has been giving his best to be among the wickets, but he was unlucky on a surprise which did wonders for the fast bowling.

Sri Lanka aims for the resurgence:

India Vs Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli, Nagpur Test, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Chandimal
Lankan would be relying on the decent start. Photo Credit: BCCI.

As Sri Lanka is expected to make a couple of changes in the side, the visitors’ skipper Chandimal needs to work on creating the pressure on an opposition whenever they would have their time to make most out of the opportunities.

The visitors would like to take early wickets in order to stay in the game while looking out for the variations in the bowling arsenal spearhead by Suranga Lakmal.

On the batting front, Dinesh Chandimal would want the experienced opener Dimuth Karunratne to shine in the all-important Test fixture as all-rounder Angelo Matthews has the ability to stay longer at the crease with gloveman Niroshan Dickwella is further capable of rotating the strike and eventually scoring runs at the pace.

The Lions would want to play their natural game which further would turn out to be handy if the visitors would be able to soak the pressure of facing the quality bowling line-up.

The team would be aiming to have a solid start which would further attune the batting line-up to give a good fight against the world-ranked number one Test side.

Nagpur Venue:

The weather would be sunny according to the met forecast, the stadium in Nagpur has been traditionally helping the spinners and this time around it’s expected sprung a surprise and certainly for a change.

As the fixture is scheduled for Friday (November 24), Nagpur has had hosted so far four Tests since 2008.

The highest score on this ground was registered by hosts against New Zealand in 2010.

India posted 566 for eight in 165 overs, as the highest innings win came against the same opponent by an innings and 198 runs when Test finished inside four days.

What Predictor’s Hat says:

With India clearly the favourites for the impending Test match, Lankans might spring a surprise or so, but for that, they have to give their best – to take the indomitable side off-the-road which seems highly improbable task at the moment while considering the statistics and the on-paper teams.

We’re expecting the Test fixture could deliver the result in the morning session of fifth day’s play in India’s favour.

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