India won the series against srilanka

MS Dhoni & Co achieved a rare feat on Thursday when they bundled Sri Lanka for 265 runs in the fourth one-dayer at Colombo to set a new Indian record with their 9th straight ODI win. The earlier record of eight consecutive wins was jointly held by Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Dhoni won the toss for the fourth time in a row and chose to bat. India made 332/5 with the help of knocks from Gautam Gambhir (150) and Dhoni (94). Suresh Raina remained unbeaten on 49 runs.

Gambhir became the first Indian batsman to make 150 on the Lankan soil against the hosts and was given the ‘Man of the match award’. His feat was soon overshadowed by the Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan who dismissed the Indian opener as his 503rd victim and became highest wicket-taker in the One-Day Internationals. He is world’s most successful Test bowler with 769 wickets.

However, it was Nuwan Kulasekara who picked three wickets to slow down India’s run-riot. India lost Sehwag early when he steered a Kulasekara-delivery to Sanath Jayasuriya who dived in front to take a brilliant catch at mid-off. He could contribute only 5 runs.

After Sehwag’s early fall, MS Dhoni (94) and Gambhir consolidated India’s innings and added 188 runs for the second wicket when Jayasuriya deprived the Indian captain from raising his hundred. He got a thick outside edge and Dilhara Fernando at short third man took a single-handed catch.

INDIA WON THE TEST SERIES

In Mohali two men will have a contrasting view of the future after what happened in Chennai. Yuvraj Singh proved that he belonged to the Test arena but Rahul Dravid failed to overcome the ghosts of an unusually long run of failure and now faces an uncertain future.

For Yuvraj his unbeaten 84 on Monday was a moment of reckoning. He joined his childhood idol Sachin Tendulkar with the target still 163 runs away and victory rested on how well he supported his mentor. The southpaw passed the test and when they walked off the park, Yuvraj Singh knew he had been part of an unique moment.

“I thought if I could ever win a Test match with him (Sachin Tendulkar) and today that dream has come true,” said Yuvraj after India won by six wickets against England.

However, on the other side of the coin is the conundrum surrounding Rahul Dravid’s poor run of form; it has now become more than a passing headache.

He averages less than 30 this year in Tests but even if many believe his time has passed, his team continues to support the once formidable “Wall.”

“Whatever people are saying about Rahul, is not worrying any of us. He is a great player and he will definitely score runs,” stated Tendulkar.

But will Dravid repay that support. The selectors have reportedly assured Dravid, that his place is under no immediate threat although there may be a chance in his batting position. It’s a move that many experts support.