Sri Lanka's new spin sensation Ajantha Mendis will be a threat for the Indian batsmen in their three-match Test tour beginning July 18, feels former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
Ganguly, who has been retained in the Test squad though being ignored from the Champions Trophy probables, said he has some "specific plans" to tackle Mendis who flummoxed the Indian batsmen, known to play spin well, claiming six for 13 in the Asia Cup final.
The elegant left-hander, who has the reputation of spanking spinners, plans to study the videos of the 23-year-old unorthodox right-arm spinner, who bowls a medley of googlies, off-breaks, top-spinners, flippers and leg-breaks with a 'carrom ball' action.
"Somebody who has made so much of damage and single-handedly helped Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup final will obviously be a big threat. No doubt, he is a good bowler.
We've to read him off the hand ... It will be too late if you start picking him up off the pitch. He'll be a force in Sri Lanka squad," Ganguly told reporters.
He, however, felt that the Indians will soon read Mendis after getting used to playing him.
"I feel once we get used to playing him it will become easier to play him; we will pick him easily. We've to study his action, see his footage before taking him in the Lankan tour," Ganguly said.
Having negotiated Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan well in his career, Ganguly placed the veteran offie higher than the upcoming spinner.
"Murali has a variation of pace. He is in a different league," Ganguly remarked.
