Indian team who is now at the second place in ICC ODI ranking will be keen to get inch closer to the first spot by winning the last game of the series against Sri Lanka. The win here against Sri Lanka will leave India with 2 points behind the South Africa. Indian team is keen of closing the gap for the first spot in ODI ranking. While the top spot can wait, a 5-0 whitewash of a strong team on its own soil is motivation enough for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men to come out all guns blazing. M.S.Dhoni already indicated in the post match presentation in the 4th ODI that he would like to wrap-up the series with win at R.Premdada. However he is also keen on giving chance to other players who has not get chance to play on this tour. But as we have seen in the last game that changes doesn’t affect the team performance so there will be no surprise if India manage to repeat the same performance. Victory in the fifth ODI will bring India second straight series win without a defeat. On the other hand Sri Lanka will be keen to win the last match to save their pride and give some last laugh for their home crowds. So far their spectators are so frustrated that now they are throwing stones on the visiting team as we have seen in the last one day international at R.Premdasa Satdium. The Sunday encounter is a day game so toss will not play crucial part however M.Jayawardne would like to turn his fortune with the toss so far he is unlucky on all four occasions. All Indian batsman’s are in prime form and their bowlers are delivering when it matters most. Their fielding is far superior than Sri Lanka. The team like Sri Lanka who is known for good fielding side struggled to collect the catch and struggled in the ground fielding, this is one are where M.Jayawardne and his team need to look at it. The loss here for the Indians and win for Australia in Sydney will push India back to the 3rd spot in ODI ranking, so M.S.Dhoni and his men will take this as motivation and will try to win the game and series by 5-0 to push themselves up towards top spot in ODI ranking. Watch out for S. Jayasurya: He has scored only 44 runs in his last three innings at R.Premdasa but the players of his caliber is due for some big knock. He will be eager to get big hundreds against the Indian to salvage his team pride and save his team from 0-5 series loss. S.Tendulkar: This man may have given rest in the previous game but he will be keen to make big runs against the Sri Lanka to join the party. So far he has played three matches on this tour and on all three occasions he has given out lbw, but replay suggested that he was unlucky to be given out on all occasions. L.Balaji: This man may get his chance to make a comeback into the squad after waiting for the long time. But he has proved himself at this level and it will be interesting to watch how he performs against the Sri Lankan’s who are down and out after the series loss. Pitch and conditions
The pitch at R.Premdasa is expected to behave in same way as in the last two games at this venue. However team winning the toss would like to bowl first on this wicket since the condition in the morning will be helpful for the fast bowlers and as the game progress it will be easier for the batsman to score runs on this wicket.
Stats & Trivia If M.S.Dhoni able to win the toss and match against Sri Lanka at R.Premdasa then he will become first captain in Indian cricket to achieve the feet of winning all toss and all matches of the series. So far Sri Lanka struggled in the middle overs of their innings. They have lost an average of 5 wickets from over 16 to 40 scoring at a rate of 4.48. On the other hand India have lost only 11 wickets and scored at the rate of 5.78 runs per over from 16th to 40th over. Sri Lankan top order failed to deliver in the series averaging just 19.25 runs for the first wicket in the four matches they have played so far. Team News
We might witness few more changes in the Indian squad. L.Balaji who came as replacement for injured M.Patel might get game in today’s match. All rounder R.Jadeja is likely to play in today match. So if it happens then P.Ojha and Y.Pathan might get rested for the 5th and final ODI.
Sri Lanka is likely to bring their mystery spinner A.Mendis back into the squad in place of D.Fernando. Rest team will be same as they played in the 4th OID. Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 10:00 AM India Time on 8th Of February) India Squad: V.Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, S.Raina, Y.Singh, R.Sharma, M.S.Dhoni (Captain & WK), R.Jadeja, Y.Pathan, I.Pathan, I.Sharma, L.Balaji. Sri Lanka Squad: T.Dilshan, S.Jayasurya, K.Sangakara (WK), T.Kandamby, M.Jayawardne (Captain), C.Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, F.Mehroof, N.Kulasekara, M.Muralitaran, A.Mendis. |
