While terrorists were butchering Indians at home in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, the Sri Lankans were ‘killing’ their prey, the team India, at Colombo with no less ferocity than the terrorists.
The duo of Muthia Murlitharan and Ajantha Mendis pulverized a spineless Indian team handing them down one of the worst defeat in the history of Indian test cricket. Between them the duo captured 19 of the 20 wickets making the Indian batsman look novices. It appeared at the end that even if given a third innings on the ‘compassionate ground’, team India could not have saved the follow on.
Such big names Sachin, Sourav, Dravid, Shewag floundered childishly without playing any sensible cricket against huge Sri Lanka total of 600 for 6, with three of their batsman scoring centuries, in a predominantly batting pitch. The magic of double-edged spin attack of Murali (match figure 11 wickets for 110 runs) and Mendis (8 wickets for 132 runs) systematically decimated Indian batting line up. The Indians could not face the ‘burning eyes’ of Murali and the wile of Mendis and batsman after batsman returned to pavilion in a mourning precession behind the Indian coffin.
In the end, Sri Lankans with a population and area of 1/50th of the size of India, outwitted Indians in all departments of the game and literally served them notice of ‘impending serial attack’ for the rest of the series.
It is now high time that the trio of Sachin, Rahul, Sourav be shown the door if they do not relent on their own. They all have lost the appetite for good play having earned billions of bucks over the years. Their age too have clouded their fitness and flexibility.