Sourav Ganguly's return from exile is bound to bolster a struggling batting line-up as India grapple with more injury worries ahead of their IndianOil Cup tri-series match against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Wednesday.
Although Ganguly is almost certain to feature in the starting eleven, the left-handed Yuvraj Singh was running fever and is a doubtful starter for the flood-lit encounter at the Rangiri Stadium.
VVS Laxman, who sat out of the first two matches with a back spasm, is fit and batted for long in the nets. But the team management will wait till tomorrow before taking a decision on playing the stylish Hyderabadi batsman.
For the first time in five years, Ganguly will be in the team as a regular member, without the privileges of a captain, but consoled by the comforting words of coach Greg Chappell, who wants his leadership and batting skills to show on the field.
"He has been a leader for long and an experienced cricketer in these conditions. Obviously, we would like to make the best use of his skills and his experience," said Chappell, on the eve of the tie at the Rangiri stadium.
Ganguly's presence will lend solidity and experience to the Indian batting, which floundered in the series opener against the hosts last week.
Chappell though did not commit himself whether Ganguly would open or bat at number one position but indications are that a place in the top order would be reserved for the former captain.
Sri Lanka won the opener against India by a close margin of three wickets last Saturday and Chappell hoped if the batting was to fire to its potential, it could be a different game tomorrow.
"Batting was our problem in the first game. We should have got 250 on the board. The good news is that bowling and fielding, two of not our better areas, was up to the scratch on the day. So if our batting works well, we should be alright tomorrow."
The fifth bowler's issue has occupied Chappell's mind also but he said in these conditions, if the first four bowlers could do the job well, the team could afford to take risk with the part-time bowlers.
"It is a matter of getting the balance right and I think putting runs on the board is an important issue."
The fielding drills took up a major chunk of the morning's nets and Chappell said his aim was to get the boys improve to the extent that when they return from Zimbabwe in September, they would be a vastly fitter side.
That's the aim even though I realise in the initial phase it could be tough on them. I would ideally not like to train them thus hard on the day before the match but the target is to take them on a road to better fitness."
For those yet to play a game in the competition, the likes of Anil Kumble, JP Yadav and Laxmipathy Balaji, Chappell expressed his belief that ideally he would like to give all members of the side at least a game before the tournament is through.
"Ideally, I would like everyone to play a game in this tournament. We must have players ready to step in incase there is an injury or somebody is out for one reason or other."
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are still keeping the news on fast bowler Chaminda Vaas's return close to their chest.
However, it is learnt that the quality left-arm paceman will be seen in tomorrow's game.
Sanath Jayasuriya, despite the hiccup of a minor shoulder dislocation, is still expected to figure in the eleven.
Nuwan Zoysa, the left-arm paceman, though is unlikely to make it tomorrow. He is still in Colombo, nursing a bad back.
Any team which wins tomorrow would have made sure of a berth in the final, to be played next Tuesday.
Teams (from):
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Y Venugopala Rao, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble, Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan.
Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumara Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Ferveez Mahroof and Dilhara Lokuhettige.
