Bruised India face resurgent Sri Lanka

Desperate to restore their battered reputation after the recent debacle in Australia, title holders India would be hoping for a positive start to their campaign in the Asia Cup when they take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The Asia Cup will provide India a chance to make amends for their dismal performance in the triseries in Australia where they won just three out of eight matches.

After having flopped in two consecutive overseas tours in England and then Australia, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni knows the importance of a good start that will hold them in good stead in the regional tournament.

India are coming into the tournament with just a few changes in the squad that played in Australia with hard-hitting batsman Yusuf Pathan and pacer Ashok Dinda drafted into side, while Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav have been 'rested' due to injuries.

The tournament will also provide another opportunity to young players like Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja to prove their worth after producing a below-par performance in tough Australian conditions.

The series will also see a keen contest between Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan for the lone all-rounder's spot in the playing eleven.

Sri Lanka have been a resurgent side this year. They narrowly lost the five-match series in South Africa 2-3 early this year and reached the finals of the just-concluded triseries in Australia, only to lose it but not before giving a tough fight to the home team.

But the Sri Lankans have come here as a tired side after the long triseries in Australia, where they played five matches in the last 10 days.