Sehwag: Lanka an unfinished business
Ajantha Mendis tormented India's batsmen when they last visited Sri Lanka for a Test series
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Ajantha Mendis tormented India's batsmen when they last visited Sri Lanka for a Test series. But Virender Sehwag says things could be different this time around. Sehwag, who is making a return from injury, has spent time playing at different academies on different wickets against unorthodox bowlers, in the build-up for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka. He tells GS Vivek from the Indian Express that winning is top priority in Sri Lanka.
He [Mendis] had a really good series against us last time. But we have played him rather well since then. They didn't pick him in the one-dayers (Asia Cup). Even if he is not picked for the Tests we have to prepare for Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv.
We have failed to win a Test series in Sri Lanka in the recent past. We have some unfinished business... like an unfinished assignment in Sri Lanka. We will definitely try to win this time.
In an interview with DNA, Rahul Dravid echoes Sehwag's opinion and is not too concerned by the threat of Mendis.
Look, theirs is not a one-dimensional attack. They have a quality bowling, Mendis or not. Sri Lanka are always a difficult team to play at home. But we can take confidence from the fact that we won a Test each in our last two away series against them. We could not sustain that success throughout the series though. May be we can do it this time. It is a question of maintaining the form right through the series. I think we have a good balanced side which is capable of beating them.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo