India enters the seven-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka with revenge in mind, after losing to the Islanders thrice in the IndianOil Cup earlier this year.
Led by new captain Rahul Dravid, the young team hopes to turn tables on the visitors, currently ranked second-best in the world after the all-conquering Australians, in the first match of the series in Nagpur on Tuesday.
The home side, ranked seventh, is hoping that Sachin Tendulkar, their best batsman of the last decade, will be able to lift the morale of the side, dogged by recent controversies.
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India's most successful captain Sourav Ganguly was dropped on grounds of form and fitness, leaving the mantle on Dravid, who has been struggling with the bat lately. Incidentally, in the last ODI played between the two sides at Nagpur, Ganguly was the star performer, scoring a century (130) and claiming four wickets (4 for 21) as India eased to an 80-run victory.
But Dravid, who failed to live up to expectations in the recently-concluded ICC Super Series, featuring three one-day internationals and a Test, could well be smiling after having a look at the Vidarbha Cricket Association pitch, which appeared full of runs.
He said although the wicket will be good for batting, it might take a bit of spin later on.
"The wicket is a bit drier than it was when we played last time. It will take some spin later on, but, hopefully, it will stay good," he said.
In the last 20 ODIs between the two countries, Sri Lanka were the dominant force, winning 11 matches, with India emerging victorious in seven, while two had no-result.
The Indian bowling also boasts a new-look attack, with reports of Sreesanth being asked to share the new ball with Irfan Pathan.
Harbhajan Singh struggled in Zimbabwe, and left-armer Murali Karthik hasn't lived up to international standards in the few chances he got.
Indeed, the bowling attack has been India's biggest problem in 2005, as a result of which they lost 8 of the 16 matches they played. India's highest run-getter for the year, Mohammad Kaif (583 runs in 16 ODIs), and highest wicket-taker, Ashish Nehra (27 wickets in 14 ODIs), have been ruled out due to injury, thus making the task that much difficult.
Though they start as underdogs, the young Indian side hopes to prove critics wrong and emerge victorious in the Orange city.
