You have got to think how you can take 20 wickets to take the game forward and win it. “I consider myself lucky to have played alongside a champion performer like Kumar”, said While he was emotional about the farewell of his closest friend (they run a restaurant together in Colombo – Ministry of Crabs), Jaywardene did not forget to mention that India will have an “upperhand” in the upcoming series. It’s not about getting big runs but about taking 20 wickets.

After ripping into the Sri Lankan Board President’s XI with a five-wicket haul, Sharma interestingly made a statement that sounded like that of a stock bowler rather than a spearhead. Where you know it will turn from day one. With all these tours, he is only going to grow and experienced. If anything it’s an old cricket truism. Although he insisted that he was a very different bowler to Harbhajan, the idea of picking two off-break bowlers only suggest a lack of depth in India’s spin resources. They had a pretty decent attack. This must be one of the youngest Indian teams to come here.

Vijay’s good form can be seen from the fact in his last 10 Tests for India including a Test series against England and Australia away from home, he has batted with great aplomb and averaged more than 54.

The players have had that learning curve in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.

Eranga had also missed the recent series against Pakistan due to a back injury from which he had recovered only to get hurt again. So that experience has to come into play. But Shastri still feels that it is the approach that will provide India with that winning feeling in times to come.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has fired a shot in the direction of Kumar Sangakkara ahead of the three-Test series starting in Galle on August 12, saying he “will go hard” at the retiring Sri Lankan batsman. “I consider myself lucky to have played alongside a champion performer like Kumar”, Jayawardene added. We don’t mind losing playing in that fashion.

He also urged Virat Kohli and his men to play aggressive cricket.

Shastri remained non-committed to a query regarding the possibility of Cheteshwar Pujara’s inclusion for the Test match.