— Photo: S. Subramanium

TURNING IT AROUND: Irfan Pathan's elevation proved a masterstroke, while Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Dravid chipped in to provide a perfect start for India.

MOHALI: Drummed into the heads of sweaty, struggling boxers is the message — `It doesn't matter how many times you hit the canvas. What matters is how many times you pick yourself up.' India managed a left hook and a right jab to the button in the first ODI at Nagpur. How a tottering Sri Lanka responds will mark the second game of the seven-match series for the Videocon Cup at the PCA Stadium here on Friday.

More unknowns will be added to the melange that is instant cricket in the first of two day-night encounters.

The importance of the toss was underscored in Tuesday's victory. With Super Subs being nominated before the toss, captains gamble on their choice and hope things work out. They did for India in the first match.

The pitch in Nagpur demanded the standard fare — bat first, bat big.

All matches in the Challenger series at the PCA stadium, however, were won by the side batting second. The film of dew that sets in during the break between innings freshens up the pitch, aiding bowlers who skid it through, helping batsmen who like ball coming on to bat, but frustrating spinners who need to contend with a bloated, slippery leather sphere.

Innovative skipper

Indian captain Rahul Dravid, with his penchant for innovation, will have a range of permutations to pick his strategy from. Will he choose to set a target and persist with Murali Kartik, who kept it on a string and spun it square, as Super Sub? Or will he play the extra bowler (spinner or quickie?) and substitute him with a batsman while chasing on a track that will last the distance? The only given is Dravid will surprise.

"They are not experiments just for the sake of experiments," said Dravid.

Raina to miss out

"It's based on cricketing principles, on what we think is good for the game. We might do things differently but at the end of the day we will try and get a combination that will do well irrespective of the toss." All the Indian skipper said about team composition was, "Raina and R.P. Singh will miss out."

The Sri Lankans would have been disappointed with their effort in Nagpur. Sachin Tendulkar's blow to the sternum left them gasping and incapable of thinking straight. Not that it would have mattered. The way the Indians batted — the great man and Irfan Pathan first up, M.S. Dhoni and Dravid at the death — little would have stopped them. Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas were reduced to formless images of what they could do.

Canny spinners

The islanders' batting disintegrated in the face of astute captaincy backed up by canny spin bowling and near ferocious fielding.

Mahela Jayawardene's ill-advised reverse sweep reflected the desperation in the Sri Lankan ranks.

Keep in mind, though, that all that prevented India from chasing a mammoth target, staving off Muralitharan and Chandana, was the way a disk of metal fell before the match.

"Look mate, nothing went horribly wrong with our strategy," said Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody.

Tough to recapture

"We have to give credit where it's due. India took advantage of batting first, batted with freedom and took the initiative. Sometimes when they have momentum, it's tough to recapture it."

The Indians' energy in the field was a positive sign — apart from the tangible cricketing benefits of good fielding, it is often a guide to the mood and confidence of the side.

The spirit indicated a hunger that characterised India's bull run in 2003. With Tendulkar's return come promise and belief — co-passengers of genius.

The Mumbaikar will play his 350th game on Friday. If India manages to ride the crest he has triggered, it could be 2-0 up before travelling to Jaipur.

Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu, who indicated that Kumar Sangakkara could open the innings, put it in perspective. "It's only one defeat. Don't make too much out of it," he said.

Update on Kaif

Indian media manager Wing commander M. Baladitya said Mohammad Kaif had completed two weeks of physio John Gloster's review programme. "After a week he'll be monitored by John and we'll see how it turns out," he said.

The teams (from):

India: Rahul Dravid (capt.), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Venugopala Rao, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, J.P. Yadav, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, S. Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik and Gautam Gambhir.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Upul Tharanga.

Umpires: A.V. Jayaprakash (India) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand);

Third Umpire: I. Sivaram (India);

Match Referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play: 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. till close.

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