OPENING COMBINATION: Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag share a light moment during the practice session on the eve of the second ODI at Nagpur.

Nagpur: The Madhav Rao Scindia Stadium’s sense of intimacy and its rough edges will make way for the impressive, imposing structure at the VCA Stadium, where the second India-Sri Lanka ODI will take place on Friday.

Nothing different by way of a contest is expected, except that the idea of a day-night match brings forth abundant theories on evening dew. Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni didn’t believe it would have much of a role in the match.

“I spoke to the curator, and he does not believe it will be much of a factor. I hope it won’t be. They will be using sprays and the super-sopper, so it shouldn’t be a factor,” said the skipper.

Dhoni described the wicket as a ‘good flat one’ having been a recent beneficiary of its goodness. Just under two months ago, Dhoni played a 107-ball 124 at this ground, a knock that grew decidedly virulent with every delivery unspent.

India made 354 in that match against Australia and won by 99 runs after scoring 87 runs in the last 10 overs of its batting innings. At a time when 600-run match aggregates were a thing of the present, it was an impressive performance which the team will do well to remember on Friday.

Sehwag declared fit

India’s major injury concern was put to rest on the eve of the match. Virender Sehwag, who took cricket a step closer to its halcyon future of 1,000-run aggregates, will be fit for the match. The destructive opener had a swollen knee after a fielding lapse at Rajkot, but recovered in time for second match.

Yuvraj Singh, down with a viral flu, will most likely miss the second ODI as well.

The Indians had an extended fielding session under Gary Kirsten’s supervision during practice on Thursday. A number of catches were dropped at Rajkot, given that Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara were generating tremendous speed off the bat.

Kirsten worked with the team in batches, testing reaction-times and working on their throwing with repeated short-distance drills.

The wicket for the first Twenty20 match had some bounce in it for the quicker bowlers, but batting was soon a breeze after that.

The team will look to its frontline quick bowlers — Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra — for a repeat of their fine bowling at the death.

Biggest challenge

Sri Lanka’s biggest challenge will be to take the gut-wrenching loss at Rajkot in its stride. The side had yet again failed to gain complete control of a favourable situation.

But on the positive side skipper Sangakkara never looked in better touch. The captain came close to scoring his first ODI century since 2008 with shots so convincingly simple its brilliance was very nearly lost. It might be worthwhile persisting with sending Sanath Jayasuriya down the order, so the Upul Tharanga-Dilshan pair is undisturbed.

The bowling attack will be without Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando. Fernando is an unpredictable bowler, which adds to his ability to create opportunities, particularly with the slower delivery, a quality which will be missed.

But former skipper Mahela Jayawardene believed the absence of the two would be an opportunity for the youngsters to perform.

“I don’t see it as a problem. Injuries have been a part of the team and we’ve played and won matches with players injured, so I don’t think it will affect us a great deal. It will be an opportunity for the younger players to do well and take up the challenge.”

Jayawardene also added that pace bowler Lasith Malinga had recovered from his illness and would be fit for the match.

India will enjoy a slight advantage, being up 1-0 in the series, but the Lankan batsmen look dangerous. If nothing else, there’ll be plenty of runs at the VCA Stadium.

The teams (from): India: M.S. Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Sudeep Tyagi.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain/wicketkeeper), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Thilan Samaraweera, Sanath Jayasuriya, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welegedara, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv and Ajantha Mendis.

Umpires: M. Erasmus and A.M. Saheba.

Match starts at 2.30 p.m.

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