Gambhir Sizing up

The last time India toured Sri Lanka for a Test series, Ajantha Mendis bamboozled a star-studded Indian batting line-up, but this time around things will be different, promises Gautam Gambhir. India play Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Compaq Cup Tri Series in Colombo, facing Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 12. The hosts pulverized the Kiwis in Tuesday's series opener, winning by 97 runs and gaining a bonus point in the bargain. While Samaraweera and Malinga were the stars in that game, Gautam Gambhir is sizing up familiar threat Mendis. The Indian batsman, a recent Arjuna award recepient, remains unperturbed, perhaps reflecting the team's current spirit and confidence in their form.

"Mendis had his say in the Tests but you have seen how we beat them in the one-dayers twice after that," he said in a recent interview. "We are coming out of a break and have a lot of energy. We have a lot of cricket ahead and it is going to be exciting. "There is the Champions Trophy after the tri-series and I expect we will do well as we have done well earlier in South Africa.

"Personally, I expect the load to be a great challenge." There have been several questions about the Indian batsmen's techniques against the short ball, with many feeling that it was this short-coming that undid the team in their defence of the Twenty20 World title, but Gambhir has stated categorically that the team's defeats were not due to an inability to handle the short stuff.

"I think the issue was hyped by the media," he said. "We have done well against short-pitched deliveries even in Australia and New Zealand. "As far as the young players are concerned, they will gain from experience and will surely do well," he said.