India now is on the verge of losing the series 0-2 to Sri Lanka and it would be a big setback for millions of Indian fans who had nurtured hopes of an Indian win in the third test so as to force a tie in the three test series.  If India loses the third test they have only themselves to blame for they got far too many opportunities to force a win which they generously gave it back to the Lankans.

India started with a disadvantage of losing the toss but luckily for India the toss did not prove that decisive as it happens in most of the cases.  Indians were in a dominant position after the second plays at 180 for  2 in their first innings in reply to Lankans first innings score of 425.  Indians just needed to bat Lanka out of the match and they had two of their best batsmen at the crease to complete the task.  Unfortunately the match was lost on third day morning itself when Sehwag failed to complete his hundred into a big one which he is normally accustomed too.  Sachin too had a rare failure when he got out for just 41 a score which any batsman in the world would be happy with but a failure for Sachin if one goes by the standards he had set for himself and the team expects of him.

A pathetic batting collapse saw India lose their lost  8 wickets for 256 wickets and yet fortunately found themselves back in the match thanks to Sehwag's double strike in the Lankan second innings.  Indians got yet another chance on the fourth day to close out the match when Sri Lankans were reeling at 87 for 7 but then their bowlers for long known for their ineffectiveness allowed Mendis to prosper in the company of Samaraweera.  Indians have had a reputation of making super heroes  out of ordinary cricketers and while they made Ajantha Mendis a star during their last visit to Sri Lanka, this time around they made Mendis a batting hero. The pair of Samaraweera and Mendis not only rescued the Lankans but have put Sri Lanka on course to 2-0 a series win.

While Sachin who is in magical form is still there at the crease it would be too much to expect to save the match for India as winning is almost impossible.  Unfortunately for India the inform Sehwag and out of form Dravid fell cheaply.  Both of them could have made a huge difference to the teams fortunes in their own ways.  While a  Sehwag blitz could have shattered the morale of Sri Lankan bowlers and taken India to a easy win, Dravid's patience could have blunted the Sri Lankan bowlers and could have earned India a possible draw. 

Sachin Tendulkar could be under lot of pressure not only because of tricky fifth day sub continental pitches and fourth innings totals but also due to the fact that there are only two specialist batsman to follow. while VVS Laxman is a experienced campaigner Raina is only playing in his second test followed by our skipper cum wicket keeper batsman and tail enders.


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