New Delhi: With the all-important tour of South Africa coming up in a month, the Indian team under Virat Kohli has time and again stressed on the fact that they are using this three-match Test series against Sri Lanka as a preparation for the same.
But ahead of the third and last Test match, Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal took a dig at the Indian team about their claims of using pacer-friendly tracks in this series to prepare for the South African pitches.
“I am not sure they are preparing for South Africa,” he said, further adding, “I am surprised they are saying they are preparing for South Africa but they are giving these pitches.”
The Sri Lankan skipper also went on to explain himself saying, “If you look at the wicket here (Kotla), I am not sure they are preparing for South Africa! It looks like a Nagpur pitch (where 610 runs were scored). The Kolkata pitch was similar to South African pitches but these two are not like that. We never underestimate any team and we need to give our best.”
Chandimal also admitted that it was a thoroughly disappointing performance with the bat in Nagpur but also revealed that there’s something up their sleeves ahead of the third Test.
“In the last game, the batting let us down. We had a really good chat after the second Test and really good meetings as a team. We have something up our sleeve. I am sure they will come up with different ideas in the next game and perform at their best,” he said.
Also, the loss of their best bowler Rangana Herath would definitely be a huge setback for the team.
The Indians on the other hand have had a good time in the series. Barring that first innings in the Kolkata game, their performance have been thoroughly ruthless so far in the series and they would look forward to continue the good work they have done so far.
The hosts now need just a win or a draw to clinch their ninth consecutive series win, which would also enable them to match the world record set by the Australian team in 2005/2006 and 2008.
Also, after having crossed the three-figure mark twice in his last two innings, skipper Kohli would want to come up with a big innings at his home ground.
Pacer Umesh Yadav, needs just one more wicket to complete 100 scalps in Test cricket.
Squads:
India: Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, Shikhar Dhawan
Sri Lanka : Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva