India will look to guard against complacency and ensure they maintain their winning momentum as they go into the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Jaipur on Monday.
A backlash can never be ruled out by the Lanka Lions, but Marvan Atapattu's men have a huge task if they have to stop the Indians, who have thoroughly outplayed them in the first two one-dayers.
Skipper Rahul Dravid admitted his side would be wary of a Sri Lankan fightback and be on guard to ensure complacency does not creep into the ranks.
| |||||||||||
However, the fact is that the world's number two team has been completely thrown out of gear and left groping for a strategy that can undo the Indians.
The sudden turnaround in fortunes of the two teams could not have been more contrasting. Only a week ago, Indian cricket was in turmoil following the Ganguly-Chappell spat, not to mention the shameful episodes surrounding the Board elections.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, were coming into the series with the reputation of world number two ranked ODI team and the confidence of having beaten the rivals comprehensively in a tri-series at home only recently.
But while a batting renaissance, aided by the return of a rejuvenated Sachin Tendulkar, has put the Indian team back on the rails, the visitors have been done in by lack of batting form.
With five matches to go, the Lankans have enough time to regain ground but given the kind of psychological domination the hosts have established, the series is India's to lose.
The key to India's reversal of fortunes has been the fantastic return to team and form by the iconic Sachin Tendulkar.
The little master has prompted paeans to be written all over again by exhibiting lyrical strokeplay of yore and infusing life in the series, which, when it rolled off, appeared to just another string of matches of regular action.
As for Sri Lanka, their world status is a pointer to their ability to unruffle any opposition but the two huge and successive defeats have hit hard at their confidence and suddenly they find themselves in a situation in which India were in not many days ago.
The Sri Lankan top guns like Sanath Jayasuriya, captain Atapattu himself and Mahela Jayawardene have failed to fire and the likes of Russel Arnold and Dilshan Tilakratne have also not been able to do justice to their talent, leaving the batting in shambles.
Opinion is also divided on Kumar Sangakkara opening the innings and it remains to be seen what the Sri Lankan think-tank does to set it right.
Sri Lankan bowling has at best been mediocre and their spin trump card Muttiah Muralitharan has also been rendered ineffective largely by the in-form Indian batsmen.
While it would be an onerous task for Atapattu now to instill self-belief in his players, Dravid's task has been made easier as his team members have responded to his call for giving more than 100 per cent on the field magnificently.
The odd controversies or two revolving round dethroned skipper Sourav Ganguly's return to the team would be best kept at bay especially in the present scenario when everything seems to be going right for the Indians.
Any hope the islanders might have had of cashing in on the rumblings in the Indian team following speculation of comeback by Ganguly was buried after the selectors decided on Friday not to tamper with a winning combination.
The selectors' thumbs down for Ganguly has meant a thumbs up for the youngsters who have been assured of their place in the team even if it is only for the next three matches.
With the seniors in the team leading by example, it has been easier for the youngsters to rally around them, just what coach Greg Chappell has envisioned for World Cup 2007.
It would be interesting to see India's game plan for tomorrow's match, on a track, which, according to the curator, is a batting paradise.
The wicket at new-look Sawai Mansingh stadium had some grass on it initially but is has been now rolled out.
