India and Sri Lanka would be playing the final test of the three match test series at PSS Colombo today. While the test gains significance for Sachin Tendulkar and millions who adore the master blaster for giving historic moments during a extra ordinary career lasting more than two decades, the Test is more significant for Team India than for Sri Lanka or master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
To being with it is India who has to take all the initiatives and the risk which comes with it as they are 0-1 down in the series while Sri Lankawould be content with a draw to take the series 1-0. If one looks from a captaincy point of view Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara is generally known to be a captain who plays it safe while his Indiian counterpart M S Dhoni is exactly the opposite and it is no co incidence that they extend the same approach to their batting. Sangakkara will only go for the kill if they get India out cheaply in the first innings.
The Indians while do not have any other option but go for the kill has to go about things in a planned manner rather than by instinct. First of all it becomes very important for Dhoni to have little bit of luck on his side to win the toss. If Dhoni wins the toss and gets a chance to bat first India should adopt a safe approach by preserving wickets and get to a total from where they cannot the lose the match and once they get to that type of total they can launch an assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers which does not boast of even a single bowler who can rip through the Indian batting line up. Sehwag as usual can play the attacking game as he is most comfortable with it and has met with extra ordinary success over the years.
On the contrary if India decide to adopt a over aggressive approach by going for quick runs right from the word go it could easily back fire as the loss of quick wickets would mean playing into Sri Lankans hands as they would be battling out to save the match and the end result could be a draw or a Sri Lanka win.
Let us hope India wins the toss bat first and as usual Sehwag gives a rollicking start, Sachin and company consolidate while the lower middle order goes for the kill.