Series won, but lots to play for

Friday’s match — the fifth and final one-day international — looked like it was on the backburner as the players approached the rare one-month gap in their schedule because of the postponement of the Champions Trophy. But, while those who have already done their bit in the series so far were in a relaxed mood, some members of this Indian team are still craving for success. For these players, Friday is just as crucial as any match because it’s their last opportunity to prove their worth and cement their places in the Indian line-up.

Yuvraj Singh, S Badrinath, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha will look to impress chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar while RP Singh will remember August 29 as the day his ‘holiday’ ends. The left-arm seamer has spent a frustrating one-and-a-half months in Sri Lanka without getting a single game and will look to make the most of his chances in the last match.

All the Sri Lankan players — except Muralitharan and Chamara Kapugedera, who had other prior engagements — turned up for the optional nets session to sort out their batting problems. With the series lost, Sri Lanka will look to salvage some pride at the Premadasa Stadium, where they have slipped twice before. India are likely to use this match to test their bench strength and, in all probability, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar are likely to be rested for RP Singh and Ojha, and Irfan may also come in as an all-rounder.

In a series where Ajantha Mendis has ceased to be a decisive factor after some sensible, attacking batting by the Indians, the visitors are also raring for a final go against him. Having written a piece of history, another Mendis conquest will provide this team the ultimate satisfaction.