India would feel relaxed on sub-continental tracks

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India returned earlier than expected from their tour Down Under and the ten days in between must have helped the cricketers get a good break before they embarked on that flight to Bangladesh for the Asia Cup.

This gap must have also helped the boys to clear their mind of the forgettable memories of the Australia tour and I am pretty sure that they will be breathing much easy been back on the sub-continent tracks.

These will be familiar conditions and after having played on the hard, bouncy tracks in Australia they will surely adjust well.

Also the wickets in Bangladesh are good batting tracks. The Asia cup is very crucial from Indian cricket’s point of view. It surely is at a crossroad.

Since the tour of England in 2011 India’s showing outside the sub-continent has not been much to boast about.

From Asia cup till the end of 2013 India will not stepping out of the sub-continent. So it’s the opportune moment for youngsters to come forward and take on the responsibility.

They will have to put up their hand now and get counted. This Asia cup, where India doesn’t have much of the seniors on board, will surely be an indicator as to how much our new generation is ready to take on opponents like Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

India take on Sri Lanka in the first game, who should be a tired lot. After the tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka moved on to Australia.

They not only qualified for the best of three finals but also pushed Australia to the decider and made them sweat to win the last game.

After two grueling series in tough conditions in South Africa and Australia, the island boys should be physically jaded but their success in both the countries should keep them motivated.

They lost to South Africa in the test series very closely, after having won a test match in Durban. Of the five match one-day series they won two. In Australia, under reinstated captain Mahela, they displayed immense character and pushed India out of the finals. So Sri Lanka has enough reason to be mentally upbeat. Sri Lanka looks a very balanced side.

With Mahela moving up the order and two good youngsters in Chandimal and Thirimane coming in to the middle order it looks very potent. They have also added depth in their batting with the likes of Thisera Perera, Mahroof, Kulasekhara contributing lower down.

India have more or less the same squad as in Australia. Sehwag and Zaheer have not made the team due to injury. With Viru not available India will have the opportunity to play a set opening pair for the tournament in Sachin and Gambhir.

It should be Kohli at three and by the latest trend seen in Australia it should be Rohit, Raina, Dhoni, Jadeja at 4, 5, 6, 7 respectively. You will still have the two Pathan brothers to fill in the all-rounder’s slot. That means Manoj Tewari might have to sit out one more tournament.

My message to him will be simple, if you get one chance grab it. I personally think that Manoj and Yusuf Pathan should be given a chance because Raina, Rohit have got a lot of chance in Australia. Not that they will not get chances ahead but currently they may be rested and Tewari, Yusuf given the way ahead.

On the sub-continent wickets, especially on the low and slow Bangladesh track India will surely be tempted to go in with three seamers as they have a handful of spinning option in the team.

With Zaheer and young Umesh missing out it will be between Praveen and Irfan for the senior bowler’s slot. India should give Dinda a break because the young man has been in terrific form this season and must be raring to go with the national colours on. For India setting the right balance in their bowling could be the key for their success.