Kumar Sangakkara: 'MS Dhoni has been one of the players who has been in form, so obviously it's a blow to lose him.' © AFP Enlarge
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Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara believes the absence of his Indian counterpart MS Dhoni for the third ODI in Cuttack is likely to hurt the home side, as both teams look to take the upper hand in the five-match series.

Dhoni was banned for two ODIs following India's slow over-rate during the second match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, which they lost by three wickets. Virender Sehwag will be leading the side for the games in Cuttack and Kolkata, and Dhoni will return only for the final ODI in Delhi.

"I hope it [Dhoni's absence] is a factor. He has been one of the players who has been in form, so obviously it's a blow to lose him," Sangakkara said.

Dhoni been in great touch in the series scoring 72 and 107 in the first two matches - he is also the highest run-getter in ODIs this year - and the dual pressure on Sehwag as opener and captain is something Sri Lanka is hoping cash on. "The only edge we can take is if we get him [Sehwag] out early," Sangakkara said. "We will go all out and make sure that he is out cheaply."

Not that Sri Lanka have fewer worries. Sangakkara rued the loss of his in-form allrounder Angelo Mathews, who returned home on Sunday morning after straining his right quadricep muscle during the Nagpur game. "We too have received a setback. We lost out on Angelo Mathews. He has gone back home," Sangakkara said.

Sangakkara was also clear, that in the present scheme of things, it would be very difficult to slot Sanath Jayasuriya in the playing XI. Jayasuriya was pushed down the order to No. 4 in the opening match in Rajkot and sat out the following ODI. "Jayasuriya is a legend but the combination we played in Nagpur, it was hard to fit him in," Sangakkara said. "Sometimes, the combinations do not allow certain players, even some great players, to get in the side. They all take it very well. We look for direct and honest communication. It's no different to anyone.

"As a player, you've got to accept decisions that are sometimes fair or sometimes unfairly done. But at the end of the day all decisions are made for the interest of the side. Be it any kind of player, senior or new to the side, it does not matter. If you have something to tell them, you have got to tell them. It has to be direct and sometimes it has to be subtle, depending on individual character.

"At the end of the day whether you take it in the right spirit or take it badly, it will show your real character. But all our guys accept the fact that you got to perform to stay in the side."