Rebirth of the dead rubber

Out of the several aspects of cricket that baffles the Americans, the concept of the draw ranks high. Many of them just cannot understand how two teams, after five long days on the field, can manage to walk off with neither a victory nor defeat. Now one wonders what they will make of the dead rubber. How can two teams, after one has clinched the seven-match series 4-0, carry on playing the next three? The NBA finals are played over seven games too, but the moment the series is settled, no more points are scored and all action ceases.

Welcome to the world of cricket. There is momentum to be sustained, morale to be dented, pride to be salvaged, reputations to be restored, individual glory to be attained, personal battles to be won and there's an audience to be entertained. And it's not as if the masses, or the sponsors, are going to be turned away just because the games are only of academic interest. In fact, the situation might have been exactly the same had the scoreline been reversed and Sri Lanka been leading 4-0. We just love our cricket in these parts, don't we?

Unlike the previous four games, India didn't announce the 13 on the eve of the game but just like in Pune, there was talk of Sachin Tendulkar being rested. However, considering Tendulkar's awesome record on this ground - a Test double-hundred, a hundred and an ODI hundred - and the fact that he was out to low scores at Jaipur and Pune, it's tough to imagine him sitting out. In the event he, or any other batsman, is rested then Gautam Gambhir is likely to get his first chance of the series.

Sri Lanka will hope that they can finally strike a winning combination. With the series gone and the intensity lessened, it's an ideal opportunity for youngsters like Upul Tharanga, who impressed with his brief cameo in the previous game, and Dilhara Lokuhettige to express themsleves with freedom. One thing, though, remained consistent for the fifth successive game - the Sri Lankan camp revealed absolutely nothing about the composition of the side on the eve of the game.

In the 10 games played here, the team that's batted first has won seven times but the last two games have seen the chasing side - West Indies, under lights, and Pakistan - hunt down totals in the excess of 300 and come out on top. The pitch here has traditionally been an absolute belter and, in all likelihood, even the smattering of green, which one observed on the eve of the game, will be shaved off before the first ball is bowled. Rudra Pratap Singh, who might get his first chance of this series, might face the sternest test in his fledgling career while Gautam Gambhir, if chosen, might not get a better chance to prove his worth in ODIs.

It's nearly five years since a one-day series in India was settled before the last game with the last five bilateral series going down to the wire. With the series settled in emphatic fashion, the last three games, all in the state of Gujarat, will give the Indians an ideal chance to tinker with their combinations and rest key players. Despite the reversals, Sri Lanka will have one eye on the forthcoming Test series, starting on December 2, and, with most of the current bunch in the Test squad as well, hope to gain some sort of momentum before their return leg.

There will be no let up from the stands though. The series may be wrapped up, but the vocal, frenzied crowds will not stay back home. Tickets have all been grabbed up and there was even talk of touts buying large numbers and selling them at higher prices. This will only be the second day-night clash here and most Ahmedavadis will tell you that there aren't too many better ways to entertain yourself on a Sunday evening than watch a rampaging Indian side try to carry on their red-hot winning streak. Now try and explain that to an American.

India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Rahul Dravid (capt), 5 Venugopal Rao, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Jai Prakash Yadav, 9 Ajit Agarkar, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Murali Kartik, Supersub: Suresh Raina.

Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Nuwan Zoysa, 11 Dilhara Fernando, Supersub: Farveez Maharoof.