(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The transition from one series to the other may be difficult, and with the five-match series against Sri Lanka already in the bag, India would be caught between two states of mind. They lead the series 4-0, and with a chance for a whitewash there for the taking, Virat Kohli would be pulling out all stops to continue his impressive start as captain. On the other hand, a difficult tour of Australia awaits, and the players' attention may be divided. It is a chance Sri Lanka must use to their advantage, having been beaten comprehensively in the last four games.
While Angelo Mathews had highlighted the lack of a stable opening partnership as the main area of concern after the Kolkata ODI, vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne sang a different tune, suggesting that the Sri Lankans haven't been able to pinpoint their problems. Thirimanne blamed the bowlers' failure in taking wickets that resulted in India piling on the runs, with only Nuwan Kulasekara managing to take wickets in back-to-back matches.
Whether the Sri Lankan team management decides to re-jig the batting order will be interesting to see, but as Mathews had said, they will have to find ways to put up 300-plus scores to challenge the Indians.
India have pretty much ticked all the boxes leading up to the tour of Australia. This series alone has thrown up four different centurions while the bowlers have risen up to the challenge, despite missing a few key names. India have opted to give the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Akshar Patel, Karn Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni a go, and the theme may continue with Raina's absence, as he has been rested for the match. Kedar Jadhav, the Maharashtra batsman, will most likely take his place in the XI for his maiden international cap after narrowly missing out in the three ODIs in Bangladesh in June.
"I don't think there is anybody who has not had a go - everybody has more or less been getting an opportunity," assistance coach Sanjay Bangar said on the eve of the match. "For tomorrow's game we don't have Suresh (Raina) available. He has been rested. So, obviously the boys who have missed out have a very good chance of getting to play tomorrow."
That also means the likelihood of R Vinay Kumar getting a game in the place of either Umesh Yadav or Stuart Binny. Vinay Kumar last played an ODI against Australia last year, a game best remembered for Rohit Sharma's first double hundred. While India wear a settled look, they may want to send Robin Uthappa - another candidate for a place in the World Cup next year -up the order after he came in at No. 6 in Kolkata. India's optional training session on Saturday saw Jadhav, Patel and Karn Sharma getting extended batting practice in the event of a batting order collapse, but that seems unlikely. As unlikely as Varun Aaron fielding in the slips, which he was seen practicing.
The picturesque JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi is hosting the fifth and final ODI, but the excitement hasn't picked up, not owing to Sri Lanka's abject surrender, but because their local hero - MS Dhoni - is missing from the Indian team, with only 12,000 tickets being sold until the eve of the match on a ground that can hold 40,000. And with Suresh Raina also rested, the signs are unlikely to be encouraging on Sunday.
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