IN THE LIMELIGHT...India's fortunes in today's match against Sri Lanka will depend on the performance of these three gentlemen. From left pacement Venkatesh Prasad, Abey Kuruvilla and leg spinner Anil Kumble.

MUMBAI, May 16: The Horrors of the '96 World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka are indelibly etched in memory: the misguided munificence after winning the toss; the agony inflicted by Aravinda de Silva after the early ecstasy of dismissing Sanat Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana cheaply; the rise, fall and self-destruction of Indian batting; the melodrama and melancholy of a tearful Vinod Kambli, the shame that unruly Calcuttans brought upon the nation; the loss of face after referee Clive Lloyd awarded the match to Lanka...

It was the second successive defeat to Lanka on home soil. The World Cup party was over for the hosts. The losses questioned the national pride and answered the prejudice of a cricket-crazy country. Revenge and retribution must thus be foremost on the minds of the India team as they gear up to take on Lanka's Magnificent Eleven under the floodlights of the Wankhede Stadium, here, tomorrow.

The spirit of the Independence Cup is willing the Indians on, but it remains to be seen how much the flesh weak from the ravages of non-stop cricket since the start of the 1996-97 season will allow them to perform at optimum levels.

How much importance does one attach to India's win over New Zealand on Wednesday ? After all, one cannot forget that India went to Calcutta for the World Cup semis on a wave of optimism following the win over Pakistan at Bangalore.

The fickle nature of the abridged version of the game notwithstanding, the Sri Lankans are logical favourites for Saturday's match. The World Cup champions have an envious batting depth with either Roshan Mahanama or Romesh Kaluwitharana coming in at No 7.

Also, the Lankans boast of one of the most experienced international sides with Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekaratne, Sanat Jayasuriya all having figured in over 100 One-Day Internationals.

They have showed on more than one occasion in recent times including twice in the Wills World Cup that they are not overawed by the high-voltage support that the home team receives. Providing the necessary firepower are men like Jayasuriya and Aravinda whose fussilade of attack can change the course of the match in a few overs.

Unlike India, who have lost eight players since the World Cup, the Lankans have all but three of the side that helped them to the historic triumph in Lahore. And one of the players (the experienced Asanka Gurusinha) is missing for reasons other than form or ability.

If the Lankans have a problem, it's in the bowling department, where the reliance is heavy on the classy off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Lanka's loss to Pakistan in their opening game and India's win over the Kiwis in their first game has neutralised some of the pre-tournament advantage the world champions enjoyed. The fact that Lanka will have to beat India to remain afloat in the championship is bound to put pressure on them.

With a plethora of left-handers in the Lankan ranks, there could be a case for playing off-spinner Noel David. But unless the horses-for-courses theory is put into practice, it's difficult visualising either Sunil Joshi or Robin Singh making way for David after their good showing in Bangalore.

The match provides Abey Kuruvilla his maiden opportunity to play in front of his home crowd and the Mumbaikars will certainly pump him up as much as Kambli, back in the side after another hiatus.

The present Indian team looks considerably weakened and inexperienced than the one that was devastated by Lanka in the World Cup. It's not easy when a team loses so many experienced players -- for varying reasons -- like Mohammed Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath, Sanjay Manjrekar and Venkatapathy Raju.

Nayan Mongia at No 6 is a telling commentary of the brittle batting line-up. It certainly has placed a heavier burden on Tendulkar, who is already under pressure as skipper after the dismal tours of South Africa and the West Indies.

The bowling looks even more emaciated in the absence of Srinath which means the Indian attack will have to bowl at its best if it has to quell the challenge posed by the calculated aggression of the Lankan batsmen.

THE TEAMS

India (from): Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia, Robin Singh, Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, Abey Kuruvilla, Venkatesh Prasad, Noel David, Gagan Khoda and Dodda Ganesh

Sri Lanka (from): Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Marvan Attapattu, Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Roshan Mahanama, Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Muthiah Muralitharan, Sajeewa de Silva, Ruwan Kalpage, Dulip Liyanage and Upul Chandana.

Umpires: Steve Dunne (New Zealand) & Dave Orchard (South Africa); Third umpire: Javed Akhtar (Pakistan); Match referee: AM Ebrahim (Zimbabwe)FACTORS FOR AND AGAINST

SRI LANKA

IN FAVOUR

* Classy depth in batting

* Recent record against India

* Rich experience in ODIs

* Jayasuriya and Aravinda

* World class bowler in Muralitharan

AGAINST

* The pressure on them as World Cup champs

* The do-or-die situation after losing to Pak

* Vociferous crowd support for India

INDIA

IN FAVOUR

* Partisan support of the home crowd

* Familiar home conditions

* Tendulkar's form with the bat

AGAINST

* Fatigue from non-stop cricket this season

* Pressure on Tendulkar as skipper

* Low morale after SA & WI defeats

* A weak attack heightened by the absence of Srinath

INDIA VS SRI LANKA IN ONE-DAYERS PLAYED IND WON SL WON NRIn India 20 14 6 -In Sri Lanka 10 5 3 2On neutral venues 12 6 5 1Total 42 25 14 3

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.