India in Sri Lanka: Top-Five Batsmen to Watch Out For
The expectations on Virat Kohli will be high as India and Sri Lanka lock horns for a three-match Test series starting August 12. In his final Test series, Kumar Sangakkara will be one of the five batsmen to watch out for.
Damp conditions, sweaty pitches and the pressure to win overseas will confront Virat Kohli's Team India in Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka have the experience and the depth in their batting but one man who will hog a lot of spotlight is Kumar Sangakkara, who is playing his last Test series. Watch for the five batsmen who could make a difference:(Top 5 Bowlers to Watch Out for)
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Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay has been arguably one of India's best Test batsmen in the last one year. He scored runs in England and Australia during India's dismal tours. Vijay though failed in the IPL 8 but the stylish batsman bounced back with an impressive 150 in the one-off Test against Bangladesh in June. In England, he scored 402 in four matches and was more consistent with the bat Down Under, scoring 482 runs.(Murali Vijay Ruled Out of 1st Test)
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Virat Kohli
India's new Test skipper Virat Kohli had a miserable Test series in England last year but roared back to form in style hitting four hundreds in Australia -- which India lost 2-0 -- aggregating 692 runs. In Bangladesh, Kohli failed with the bat (scoring only 14 in one innings that India batted in a rain-hit match). A lot will be expected of him when he takes the field against Sri Lanka. It will also be Kohli's first full series as Test captain and it remains to be seen if the pressures of leadership tells on the young and aggressive skipper.(Arnold Says India's Fast Bowling Has Variety)
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Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan has played 14 Tests for India. He looked out of sorts in the three Test matches he played in Australia which led to him being sidelined for the fourth Test. He even failed to impress during the tri-series that followed. However, Dhawan repaid the faith the team management kept in him at the World Cup, scoring 412 runs in eight matches, including two centuries. The hard-hitting opener was in top form during the IPL as well. He scored his third Test ton in the one-off match in Bangladesh and will be keen keep the momentum going in Sri Lanka too.('Rohit Needed at No. 3')
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Kumar Sangakkara
Sri Lankan batting great Kumar Sangakkara will be looking to end his glorious 15-year Test career on a high. Sangakkara's 12,305 runs and 38 centuries are the most by any batsman still playing Tests, way above second-placed Alastair Cook of England, who has just over 9,000 runs and 27 hundreds. His 11 scores of 200-plus are just one short of Australian legend Don Bradman's record of 12. Lanka's batting mainstay will play the first two matches of the three Test series. Sangakkara retired from T20s after helping Sri Lanka win the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh last year and quit one-day internationals after the recent World Cup Down Under where he smashed four consecutive centuries..(India Set for Sangakkara's Farewell)
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Dinesh Chandimal
Dinesh Chandimal has been a promising batting talent in his 18 Test matches. The right-handed batsman averages 41 and has scored three tons and seven fifties. Chandimal is yet play against India and here's a chance for the 25-year-old to prove that he's the next big thing in Sri Lankan cricket. However, it will not be a smooth ride for him as he faces a tough task ahead.('Will Come Hard at Sangakkara')