India face SL,maths for semis slot

India need to win by 20 runs or finish off before 18th over and then pray for an Aussie victory over West Indies.

The front door slammed shut on their face,Team India are attempting a quiet,backdoor entry in the last four of the World T20 tournament.

But for reality to take shape,India need miracles,and mathematics,on their side. First,they need to beat Sri Lanka by a minimum margin of 20 runs if batting first,or achieve the target by the 18th over if chasing in the last match of the Super Eight stage on Tuesday. Second,Australia would be required to beat the West Indies.

Any which way,besides his cricket gear,skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will carry a piece of paper with all calculations worked out when India take the field at the Beausejour stadium on Tuesday. On match eve,the pitch appeared baked brown,to Indias liking. India,in fact,have an all-win record at this venue,while Sri Lanka are yet to notch a victory thus far.

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While its time Dhoni surprises the opposition by bowling Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra in tandem with the new ball and sticks by the norm,the Indian skipper might also give a hard look at the proposition of opening with Murali Vijay. He is,however,likely to still ignore R Vinay Kumars presence on a pitch that is expected to be on the slower side. Umesh Yadav hasnt yet arrived with visa complications and that,in this scenario,has kept things simple in picking the playing eleven.

To complicate matters,Gautam Gambhir and Tillakaratne Dilshan,the highest run-scorers in the previous two editions of the tournament,are suffering from lack of form. While Dilshan has slipped down the order and Mahela Jayawardene has instead held fort for the Lankans,Gambhir is still shaky at the top. Result: a wobbly Indian line-up is hoping that the left-hand opener finds his balance,timing and grit in time to provide the sturdiness at the start of the innings.

Rohit Sharma will be a lot wiser after being slapped with a fine of 15 per cent of match fee for arguing with the umpire and his silly improvisation that cost his wicket. Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina,meanwhile,need to get together and forge a partnership in the middle to make the launching pad for Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan later on.

Sri Lanka are suffering from a similar disease: lack of partnerships. Sanath Jayasuriya,Chamara Kapugedera and Dinesh Chandimal are clearly struggling,while skipper Kumar Sangakkara has blown hot and cold at number three.

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The Indian batsmen would not lose sleep over Angelo Mathews,Chanaka Welegedera,Thilan Thushara or even Lasith Malinga,who have limited ability to dish out the short stuff,particularly here. And though amongst wickets,off-spinner Suraj Randiv will be eyed as a soft punching bag.

As the two teams square up,Dhoni must have it at the back of his mind that he led Chennai Super Kings to the semi-finals from virtually nowhere,and went on to win the IPL. Its unfair to compare it with World T20,but for the optimistic Indian cricket fan,it works as a balm alright.