Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara does not believe his side holds a psychological edge going into the second Test of the three-match series starting at Kanpur next week after dominating India in the drawn opener in Ahmedabad.
"There's no psychological edge for us. It's even stevens now and we have to start from scratch in the second Test," said Sangakkara after India fought back with a strong second innings performance to draw the first Test.
Sangakkara said he expected the pitch here to offer a little bit more help to the bowlers after what had happened in the last Test between India and South Africa in which the visitors bowled out the home team for 76 on the first morning before going on to win by a massive margin.
"I expected the wicket to be a little more helpful after what happened in the Test between South Africa and India here. We also did not take our chances. We let it go after reducing India to 32 for four (on the first morning). There was very little there for the bowlers in the last two days," he said.
India recovered from a disastrous start on the back of splendid hundreds from Rahul Dravid and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to make 426 to which Lanka replied with a massive 760 for seven.
Sangakkara said that his spinners could not do much on the last day track but felt young left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who grabbed two wickets, outperformed Muttiah Muralitharan.
Sangakkara also praised rookie left-arm pacer Chanaka Welegedara for making the most of his last-minute inclusion after frontline new ball bowler Thilan Thushara pulled out of the match just before the toss because of a shoulder injury.
"When you know you are not going to play and then are told five minutes before toss that you are playing its difficult. But he's bowled very well. He's been out of international cricket for some reason and let's hope he does the job in the remaining part of the series," he said.
Sangakkara praised wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who scored a fine unbeaten 154 and also added a world record 351 runs for the sixth wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (275), for doing well under pressure.
"Kaushal Silva is pushing him now. We have seen Prasanna performing better with the bat and the glove when he's under pressure. He's done so against England when we were 60 for five against England," he said.
While congratulating Sachin Tendulkar for compiling his 43rd hundred and reaching yet another milestone - 30,000 international runs in all three forms of the game, Sangakkara said it was the Indian batting maestro who wanted play to continue in the last hour.
"We wanted to go away and asked Sachin, but he wanted to continue to get to his 100," the visiting captain said.
Dammika Prasad doubtful
Sri Lankan pacer Dammika Prasad is a doubtful starter for the second cricket Test against India starting in Kanpur from November 24 due to a hamstring injury, captain Kumar Sangakkara said.
"I don't think he (Dammika) would play as it seems right now he may not be available," Sangakkara said.
Prasad bowled just four overs today out of the wicket-less 13 overs he sent down in India's second innings before a hamstring problem forced him to leave the field.
