Mendis no worry for Team India,says Dravid

Right through the Asia Cup,Kumar Sangakkara kept reminding about Ajantha Mendis,who annihilated Team India two seasons back.

Right through the Asia Cup,Kumar Sangakkara kept reminding about Ajantha Mendis,who annihilated Team India two seasons back. Over the course of time,Dhoni and his boys have been able to unravel the mystery in Mendis; but kept away for tactical reasons from limited overs action,the focus is back on the Sri Lankan finger spinner,his carrom ball and the memories of a debutant dismantling the famed India Test team line-up with 26 wickets in three games.

Rahul Dravid was one amongst them,but feels that he and other batsmen are well equipped to tackle the M&M menace Murali and Mendis in the Test series beginning next month. He (Mendis) is still a good bowler. He was completely new to us when we toured Sri Lanka last time (in 2008). He got the measure our team last time,there is no doubt about it. He played a major role in the series. But hopefully,we have learnt our lesson, he said. I think we played him pretty well when he came to India. We learnt how to tackle him. Having said that international bowlers keep on improving,international bowlers come up with new tricks everytime. But hopefully we will have the answers to whatever Mendis throws at us this time, he said.

Dravid is coming off a long break after the IPL and admits that the one practice game that the BCCI squeezed into the itinerary will be crucial to get into the groove. Sometimes,it is little bit of challenge to return to Test cricket after a long break but there is preparation time in Sri Lanka. I am looking forward to some match practice before the series. I got a good gap after IPL and it has given me time to be with my family and do a bit of physical training. It was a good break for me but now its time to get back to cricket. I would not need to make any particular adjustments in my batting for the series. I have been training and preparing for the last six weeks keeping in mind the series, he said.

Yuvi has a point to prove

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As a senior statesman in the team,Dravid also provided a cushion to Yuvraj Singh,who is returning into the Test team after being dropped on form and fitness issues. Yuvraj would be keen to do well and prove a point. I think we will see the best of him in the series, Dravid said.

Dravid also pointed out that India hasnt won a Test series in Sri Lanka recently and predicted them to come back firing on all cylinders in the Test series after taming losing the Asia Cup final. Sri Lanka is a very formidable team and they play tough cricket at home. In the last two times we traveled there,we won a Test match but did not win the series. It is a positive sign to win a Test there but it is now important for us to keep that performance going right throughout the upcoming series. It is going to be a challenge but we have got a good team, he said.