Riding the crest of an amazing sequence of triumphs, India are looking to seal the seven-match one-day series with another dominating display against a self-doubting Sri Lanka in the fourth match in Pune on Thursday.
Having taken a commanding 3-0 lead, India are high on confidence and it will require a superhuman effort from the Lankans to stop the winning run at the traditionally batsman-friendly Nehru stadium track and keep the series alive.
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The biggest let-down for Lanka in the series so far is their Big Four -- former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, currrent skipper Marvan Atapattu, left-arm pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas and spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.
None of them have performed to potential, to a large extent due to the constant pressure applied on them by the hosts. Thus, the Lankans are due for a match-winning display from at least one from this quartet in what is a do-or-die encounter for them.
Jayasuriya is struggling with a freak shoulder injury and it remains to be seen how the 'Matara marauder' performs with the bat on Thursday.
Atapattu is again looking clueless on Indian soil after his lack of success in the country on previous visits, while Vaas and Murali are largely ineffective against the determined Indian batsmen.
Adding to the Lankans' batting woes will be the non-availability of their vice-captain, Mahela Jayawardene, in the crucial match. The right-handed stylist, who seemed to have run into some form when scoring 71 in the previous encounter in Jaipur, has returned home to get married and is expected back in India in time only for the fifth match of the series, in Ahmedabad on November 6.
All-rounders Russel Arnold and Tillekaratne Dilshan are miserable failures so far with both bat and ball.
The only saving grace for the visitors is the form displayed by their wicketkeeper, Kumar Sangakkara, who had scores of 43, 27 and 138 not out to his credit.
But he hasn't received sufficient support at the other end, barring the last tie when Jayawardene and the big-hitting Farveez Maharoof helped him set India 299 to chase.
Unlike the Indians, who sent in Irfan Pathan, J P Yadav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the one-down slot in the series so far and succeeded well beyond anyone's imagination, the Lankan think tank preferred to use the clean-hitting Maharoof only in the lower order.
With Vaas and Murali not as effective as is their wont, it was left to the likes of Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa and Upul Chandana to rise to the occasion, but they were mere cannon fodder for the rampaging Indian batsmen.
The hosts, in total contrast, are riding a wave of success under the aggressive leadership of Rahul Dravid and form of comeback man Sachin Tendulkar, who seems to have rediscovered his glorious touch straightaway since returning to international cricket after a six-month injury lay-off.
The Indians have not only overwhelmed the Lankans but also outthought the visitors in strategy the promotion of Pathan at Nagpur and Dhoni, who pulverized the attack to make a record 183 not out at Jaipur, to the number three slot being prime examples.
The Lankans have also been outwitted in the guessing game, with both Chappell and Dravid refusing to divulge to the media anything about the batting order on match-eves, saying it would help the opposition in framing a counter.
After the spectacular success of Pathan and Dhoni, especially the latter, who waded into the Lankan attack at Jaipur and smashed it to smithereens, it is another guessing game on who would come out to bat at number three for India tomorrow.
What is certain is that the Lankan bowlers need to get two or three early Indian wickets, as otherwise another caning is on the cards. While the Indian batting has clicked in splendid fashion, the economical as well as penetrative bowling of Harbhajan Singh in the middle overs should not be overlooked.
The off-spinner troubled the batsmen in all the three matches so far with good support from left arm Murali Kartik in the first two games. The Lankan batsmen have been unable to attack Harbhajan and it would be interesting to see what tactics they adopt in Pune.
The hosts have also changed their Super subs constantly in the series and effectively used the Powerplays too so far, another feather on the cap of coach Chappell, Dravid and other seniors like Tendulkar.
To add to the Indians' comfort zone is the fact that they have beaten the Lankans on both occasions the two rivals have clashed in Pune -- in 1990 and 1999.
Another sell-out crowd will witness the clash and unless the Lankans come up with an inspired display in the face of so many odds against them, their fate in the series could be sealed in Pune.
Teams (from):
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Y Venugopala Rao, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Jai Prakash Yadav, S Sreesanth, Gautam Gambhir and Rudra Pratap Singh.
Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamida Vaas, Upul Chandana, Thilon Samaraweera, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Upul Tharanga.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and A V Jayaprakash (India).
Third Umpire: I Shivram (India).
Match Referee: Alan Hurst (Australia).
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