— Photo: S. Subramanium

ADDED RESPONSIBILITY: Virender Sehwag has to not only fire at the top of the order but also lead India from the front.

Rajkot: Exhumed and dissected, Sri Lanka's victory in the fifth ODI at Ahmedabad throws up points of singular interest. A perusal of these will place in context both the seven-match series thus far and the sixth ODI, which will get underway at the Madhav Rao Scindia ground here on Wednesday.

But team news and injury updates first. Rahul Dravid despite recovering from cramps will sit out, said coach Greg Chappell; Virender Sehwag, who took over during Sri Lanka's innings on Sunday, will lead. Punjab paceman Vikram Rajvir Singh, who joined the team on Monday, was advised by physio John Gloster not to play for two weeks after an "inversion injury to the left ankle with associated bony bruising" was discovered.

The selectors, said media manager Wing Commander M. Baladitya, hadn't been aware of the extent of the injury at the time of selection. S. Sreesanth will join Dravid and Singh on the sidelines. Baladitya also clarified that Sachin Tendulkar's hospital visit in Ahmedabad was for a "routine check up."

Back to the autopsy of game five. India was without Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, and the best bowler of the series (even accounting for Ajit Agarkar), Harbhajan Singh. Despite two centuries of considerable and varied magnificence, the home team fell 30 short of 315, considered par. The reason was the next highest score was 19 — too many lost their heads for too few.

Lot closer

An inexperienced bowling attack, dew, and a change of captain during the chase favoured Sri Lanka, which cruised towards the end. But, the match was a lot closer. A one-day game can be reduced to what is popularly known as `the equation'. It's the difference between the number of runs required for the side batting second and the number of balls in hand. The equation is dynamic and any side chasing strives for a negative difference (more balls than runs required).

The equation at the end of Sunday's match was — 14 (0 runs and 14 balls still remaining). India bowled 13 wides and three no-balls. A wide or a no-ball is an absolute no-no. They enhance the chasing team's equation by -2 — a run knocked off from the target and a ball added — even if no runs are scored of the no-ball.

Wide contribution

India's contribution to Sri Lanka's winning equation (-14), therefore, was a minimum of -32. "With the kind of line we bowl to the Sri Lankans there is a chance of bowling wides," said Chappell. "We will look to bowl straighter."

And during the middle overs, where Sri Lanka traditionally wins its matches while bowling, India had only four men in the circle, allowing singles before Tillakaratne Dilshan dispensed with their need. "In hindsight, yeah that was a bit (of a mistake). But that seemed the way to go then, a tough decision to make," said Chappell.

So, India was bested by Sri Lanka in three (batting and bowling partnerships, discipline, strategy) out of the four areas — fielding being the other — it had dominated the islanders in. Whether Sri Lanka can harvest the momentum it has gained and make it 3-4 remains to be seen. "That score would be the ideal one," said Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu. "We are playing a tough opposition though, one we rate high in these conditions."

Big positive

For India, Gautam Gambhir's success in his first opportunity was a positive. The left-hander adds to India's options at the top, perhaps allowing Sehwag to temporarily find another spot less fraught with frenzy. But would the team want that for Sehwag? Mohammad Kaif's return should rekindle Yuvraj Singh, who has lost touch.

Another batting track, and another run feast beckons. India will look to wipe out any perceived edge Sri Lanka has. A streak of three losses before meeting South Africa, which has strung together four wins against New Zealand, could rip the fabric India has persevered to weave.

The teams (from):

India: Virender Sehwag (capt.), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Rudra Pratap Singh.

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

Umpires: A.V. Jayaprakash (India) and Mark Benson (England); Third umpire: K. Hariharan (India). Match referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play (IST): 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.15 p.m. till close.

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