Followers of the game are asking the intriguing question whether it will be another story of so near, yet so far for the Indian team in Sri Lanka. Indian cricket has enjoyed tremendous hype and almost the same expectations as the summit in Agra. I am taking the example of Agra because the result was known but hope springs eternal. Indian cricket is at present going through the same stage. Hope never dies and players and fans alike never accept that the Indian team is not one of the best. Let's hope the law of averages settles in India's favour this time.

In my opinion, with a few key players missing in each side, the series may turn out to be an interesting one. The continued absence of Chris Cairns certainly leaves a sizable hole in the New Zealand outfit. To me, it looks like Sri Lanka, with the advantage of their familiar home atmosphere, are the team to beat. The only uncertainty is the weather and this tournament's success will depend on the extent to which rain plays spoilsport.

As far as India is concerned, Sachin Tendulkar's absence provides a glorious opportunity for the other batsmen to prove their worth in the team. It gives them the chance to show that they are not basking in reflected glory but have talent and ability of their own. I would go so far as to say that even if Sachin is fit, he should abstain from playing this series.

The Indian selection looks a little wayward to me. Most of the team practically selects itself but the choice of Amay Khurasiya is debatable. I am not sure that he belongs in this league. Every follower of the game realises that teams around the world are planning for the 2003 World Cup. We seem to be planning the nucleus of a Test team, which is good, but that shouldn't be at the shorter version's expense. Even West Indies who are at the crossroads after a dismal couple of years seem to be planning better than us.

It looks like India have not learnt a lesson from the Zimbabwe tour which proved that not only are we not such a strong Test nation but even in one-day cricket we are eminently beatable. Our weaknesses both in batting and bowling have been laid bare. We do not have the batsmen to hold the fort when the chips are down and our bowlers appear too immature to stand the pressure.

Having said that, I feel India have a good chance to enter the final of the ongoing tri-series in Sri Lanka and, once there, to win the Coca-Cola Cup. The deciding factor will be how the Indian batsmen handle the wiles of Muthiah Muralitharan. They cannot have forgotten that Murali took seven wickets cheaply the last time the two teams met.

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