Tri-series Preview: India in make or break tie against Sri Lanka

Port of Spain: The Indians, who rediscovered their spark courtesy the crushing victory over the West Indies, will seek to keep the momentum going in the crucial game against the Lankans, who will be equally determined to secure a berth in the final. India will have to play to their full potential when they meet Sri Lanka in their last league natch here tomorrow to keep alive their hopes of making it to the final of the tri-nation ODI series. [caption id=“attachment_940687” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Virat Kohli will once again have to lead from the front if India are to have any chance of making the final. PTI[/caption] The Indians, who rediscovered their spark courtesy the crushing victory over the West Indies, will seek to keep the momentum going in the crucial game against the Lankans, who are now top of the points table after beating West Indies by 39 runs in a rain-affected game. It is a must-win situation for the Indians but they may have a slight edge over Sri Lanka as the islanders would not get any rest due to the rain-forced postponement of their game against the West Indies. India will also need to win with enough of a margin to give them a better net run-rate than either the West Indies or Sri Lanka to make the finals on 11 July. Currently, Sri Lanka have the best net run-rate in the tournament at +1.019 while West Indies are -0.383 and India -0.524. The last time India and Sri Lanka came face to face, the islanders sailed past their neighbours with enormous ease. But the fatigue factor, which incidentally is also setting in on the clashes between the two South Asian rivals due to the sheer frequency, could prove to be Sri Lanka’s undoing tomorrow. The Indians would come into match quite fresh and on a high after beating the West Indies in their previous game, a win that kept them in the hunt for a final berth. Kohli provided the spark, after twin debacles in the first leg, with an inspiring hundred that was also his first as captain. PTI