Top 5 battles on India’s tour of Sri Lanka 2015

Top 5 battles on India’s tour of Sri Lanka 2015: The Virat Kohli led Indian Test side is all set to take on the Sri Lankan’s in their den from 12th August. The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara will retire from International cricket after the 2nd Test match at P Sara Oval. The Sri Lankan team is seemingly ready to give the Indian side the fight to the hilt in a bid to give a winning farewell to Sangakkara. If we talk about the Indian Camp and Kohli in particular, it is going to be all about how he fares up in his first big challenge as Test skipper. India is yet to register a Test series win over the Lankan lions in the last 22 years. Here are the Top 5 battles on India’s tour of Sri Lanka 2015: 1. Kumar Sangakkara v R Ashwin: Kumar Sangakkara v R Ashwin, Sri Lanka v India 2015. (© Getty Images) Kumar Sangakkara would not leave a stone unturned when he faces the Indian team which is looking to set is feet in Tests after the Dhoni regime. In the last 2 years, Sanga has amassed 1,748 Test at an average of 61 with 5 centuries to his credit. R Ashwin who is the fastest Indian to take 100 Test wickets which he took in 18 matches is the biggest threat for the Lankan’s. Since he has stuck back to his traditional off-spin deliveries rather the experimental variations, he has improved in leaps and bounds. It will be a classical clash of titans when the two mainstays of their respective teams Sanga and Ashwin take on each other. 2. Virat Kohli v Dhammika Prasad Virat Kohli v Dhammika Prasad Sri Lanka v India 2015. (© Getty Images) The Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli seems vulnerable early on in the innings against the pacers. These days he hasn’t been in the best of forms while the extra added responsibility of captaincy will have its effects as well. Recently, the brilliant performances of Prasad earned him the tag of the premiere pacer of his side. In 4 Tests this year, he has taken 17 wickets. He bowls at sharp pace and has the fire in him which can outwit a player of Kohli’s endeavor as well. The battle between the two aggressors of their respective sides will emblazon the 22 yards much to the delight of the fans . 3. Dimuth Karunaratne v Umesh Yadav: Dimuth Karunaratne v Umesh Yadav, Sri Lanka v India 2015. (© Getty Images) The Sri-Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne has solved the riddle of Sri Lanka’s opening woes. He has emerged as a consistent performer for the side in the last two years and has compiled 865 runs at a decent average of 43. While Umesh Yadav with his pace and swing will look to outshine the Sri Lankan side by ripping through Karunaratne and thereby exposing the other batters upfront. The burst between the two will set the tone for the match and it would be interesting to see whether Karunaratne with his tight defense and temperament outclasses Umesh or the Indian pacer outfoxes him with his deceptive pace. 4. Ajinkya Rahane v Rangana Herath: Ajinkya Rahane v Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka v India 2015. (© Getty Images) Ajinkya has been the batting stalwart of the Indian side whenever they have struggled in the alien foreign conditions. In the last 2 years, Ajinkya Rahane has scored 958 runs at an average of almost 60. Now, he will look to dominate the opponents in the sub-continent conditions. But, Rangana Hearth will be the biggest conundrum in his path. In home-conditions, the 37-year old has grabbed 173 scalps in 30 Tests. In the last 2 years, the veteran Sri Lankan has 59 wickets in 12 Tests to his credit. The face-off between these two will have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Let’s see whether it will be the classical Rahane who outsmarts Rangana or the experience and expertise of Herath reaps fruits for his side. 5. Angelo Mathews v Ishant Sharma: Angelo Mathews v Ishant Sharma, Sri Lanka v India 2015. (© Getty Images) The Sri Lankan skipper Mathews has stepped up to the task in the last two years whenever the team has been in dire situations. Since 2014, he has accumulated 1452 runs at an average of 59.52 with 3 tons to his credit. Ishant Sharma has been India’s pace spearhead in the last few years. Since, 2014 he has grabbed 38 scalps in 9 Tests. Considering the fact that Mathews plays in the middle-order, Ishant will look to use his reverse swinging skills to get rid of the Sri Lankan skipper. In the build up to the series, Sharma has certainly emerged as a much confident bowler than before. ALSO READ: Top 5 Run Scores in India v Sri Lanka Tests Only time will tell whether Ishant will be able to do justice to his words or the astute Lankan skipper derails him.

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Top 5 battles on India’s tour of Sri Lanka 2015

4. Ajinkya Rahane v Rangana Herath:

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