India back on familiar ground

The 39 matches that they have played here,since their first in 1993,is double that of any other visiting team. The top 10 run-scorers at Premadasa include three Indians the other seven are Sri Lankan obviously-with Sachin Tendulkar having amassed 1096 runs in 27 matches here.

While ODIs most prolific batsman might not be around this time,Virender Sehwag whose 19 ODIs here are the most for him on a particular ground 8211; and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni too have enviable records at Premadasa.

The massive renovation work that took place here in the build-up to the 2011 World Cup,however,has ensured that its been three years since India played at their usual haunt. And theyll be increasingly happy to be back at their home away from home,especially after the tricky and unpredictable conditions at Hambantota left them high and dry in the second ODI.

The Premadasa after all is where Dhoni amp; Co. have thrived as far as the conditions are concerned anyway. India in fact have more 300 scores on this ground than even the hosts five in all,including the two highest totals.

Even contest

For starters,they will not have the treacherous breeze of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota to contend with here. And according to opener Gautam Gambhir,who top-scored with 65 on Tuesday,the flat nature of the wicket at Premadasa should make for an even contest,and should aid his team to bounce back after their shocking display four days earlier.

Breeze played a huge role in Hambantota,and it was difficult to play there. Last match was a wake-up call for us. But as a professional,you cannot complain too much about conditions. Here,I think under the lights it will do a bit. What is important is that we come out raring to go, said Gambhir.

Prior to the renovation work,the Premadasa had developed an unwanted reputation as a one-dimensional venue,where winning the toss almost guaranteed a victory. Between 2000 and 2011,29 out of 38 matches between Test nations here were won by the captain calling right and batting first. The wicket and the conditions have evened out ever since. In the last 10 matches,teams have won chasing on seven occasions.

And the master of run-chases,Dhoni,who averages 54.11 with five half-centuries at this venue,will be in his element again and hoping to continue his good-run in Colombo. Despite having scored a half-century each in Hambantota,the opening combo of Sehwag and Gambhir,havent fired in tandem so far in the series,but the lightning quick outfield and the even-paced wicket here should hold them in good stead. The focus will be on Rohit Sharma again,as the talented middle-order batsman gets another shot to impose himself after a couple of disastrous failures.

Rohit is among the few Indian batsmen to have struggled at the Premadasa,averaging 18 in five outings. The right-handers immediate future might depend on him bettering his stats here in the coming two matches.

By the time they depart from Colombo next week,Dhoni amp; Co. would hope to have set their record straight at the Premadasa,which stands presently at 17 wins and 18 losses. By doing that,they will also have ensured that the series is already under wraps by the time they travel next,further north towards Pallekele in the Central Province of Kandy for the final leg of the tour.

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