Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu wants to put the pressure on India's fifth bowler as the two teams square up for the final of the cricket tri-series in Colombo on Tuesday.
"We have recognised the fact that India is short of a bowler -- we'll try to capitalise on it," Atapattu said after his side had the nets on Tuesday.
India had to pay the price for the lack of a quality fifth bowler in the tri-series with the opposition going after the slot to score some easy runs.
Atapattu stated that the wicket at the Premadasa stadium did favour the side batting first in regular daylight.
"Batting first here is a bonus. The team that bats second has a winning ratio of 35 per cent. It is not a major factor but there is an idea that the team that bats first has an advantage," he said.
The Sri Lankan skipper, who opens the batting in one-dayers for his team, said he wants to field the best possible eleven on Tuesday, and it meant including Chaminda Vaas for the first time in the final line-up.
"We want to play the best eleven and so Vaas would be there. He has recovered fully and had a couple of good net sessions; to us, he looks 100 per cent fit," stated Atapattu.
Atapattu, who himself sat out of the last game against the West Indies, said he gave the match a miss because the team wanted to give young opener Upul Tharanga another chance in the middle.
"We wanted to give Tharanga a go. Also, I wasn't 100 per cent fit. But in this game we must play our best possible eleven."
The defeat against the West Indies the other night is still rankling the Lankan captain, who conceded that in one-day cricket, on a given day, anything could happen.
"It was disappointing but all credit to the West Indies for the manner they played. They first did well to post a score of 226 and, from then on, they did well to get our wickets regularly," Atapattu said.
"They progressed nicely as can be seen with the result of the last two games. But had they been in the final, they would have exerted less pressure than the Indians.
"What it tells you in one-day cricket is that you never know what's going to happen. It doesn't matter how weak a side is. On the day the team that does less mistakes comes up the winner."
Atapattu admitted that the form of the top order was a matter of concern and he wanted the entire team, rather than one or two individuals, to chip in with contributions.
"All the batsmen haven't clicked in one game and that's an area of concern. All our top order batsmen are good enough to put a big score and I think it will happen tomorrow."
Before leaving the nets, Atapattu paid tribute to Anil Kumble, who made an excellent return against the West Indies on Sunday and looks set to play in the final.
"He has been an excellent competitor over the years and I won't be surprised if they bring him in for tomorrow's game. Over the years we have faced Kumble but each ball, each day and each venue is different. We'll rather concentrate on him ball by ball rather than go with a pre-mindset."
