Preview: India vs SriLanka - Champions Trophy 2013

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Shikhar-Dhawan-Dinesh-Karthik-ICC-Champions-Trophy-2013

What
The second semi-final of ICC Champions Trophy, 2013, between India and Sri Lanka
When
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Where
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales, England
The teams
India
With three wins from as many matches in the tournament, India are the overwhelming favourites to lift the ICC Champions Trophy, 2013. Like it happened in their victorious 2011 World Cup campaign, batting has been the cynosure of India’s journey to the top-four with tremendous aid from the fielders and a few cases of individual brilliance with the ball. Pace bowling has been a problem area for India with only Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling consistently well in all three matches. India have fielded the same XI in all three matches and in case of an unlikely change in the semi-final, expect either Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma to sit out for Vinay Kumar. (Also Read: MS Dhoni urges high-flying India to stay grounded: ICC Champions Trophy-2013)
Sri Lanka
The team from the Emerald Isle has had a mixed bag tournament in terms of both their batting and bowling. They started their campaign with a one-wicket loss to New Zealand after being bundled out for 138 and made it to the semi-final with a comprehensive win over Australia. In between England were beaten comfortably. The best news for Sri Lanka going into the semi-final is the form of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. They will need runs from these classy veterans if they are to score a run more than India’s formidable line-up. (Also Read: Bhuvneshwar Kumar's coach Sanjay Rastogi says Knowing his limitations has been key to Bhuvi's success)
Key Players
India
Besides the obvious threat that Shikhar Dhawan’s marauding form presents, Sri Lanka will be vary of a certain Virat Kohli. Off his 13 ODI centuries, a whopping seven have come against India’s southern neighbours. Also, the fact that his highest score in the tournament so far is 31 would have further elevated his tremendous hunger for runs. Add to it that Virat is one of the most successful batsmen against the in-form Lasith Malinga and the stage is perfectly set for the batsmen to get back to his run-scoring ways.
Sri Lanka
With a fifty and a century in three matches Kumar Sangakkara has been Sri Lanka’s best batsman in the tournament so far. Having played the Indian bowlers recently in the IPL, expect the elegant left-hander to continue his run-scoring spree in the big game. With Mahela Jayawardene among runs against Australia, the Sanga-Mahela partnership will be the one to break for the Indian bowling attack.
Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, Vinay Kumar.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chamdimal, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Jeevan Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chanaka Welegedara.

source: bcci.tv

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