With charismatic Mahendra Singh Dhoni serving a two-match ban, Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said his Indian counterpart's absence has dealt a big blow to the home side ahead of the crucial third cricket one-dayer at Cuttack on Monday.
"I hope it (Dhoni's absence) is a factor. He has been one of the players who has been in form, so obviously it's a blow to lose him," Sangakkara told reporters after Sri
ka's practice session in Cuttack on Sunday.
Dhoni, who has been in great touch in the series scoring 72 and 107 in the first two games, has been handed a two-ODI ban for his side's slow over-rate during the second game of the five-match series in Nagpur, which India lost by three wickets.
The Sri Lankan skipper also rued the loss of his in-form all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who returned home Sunday morning after straining his right quadricep muscle during the Nagpur game.
"We too have received a setback. We lost out on Angelo Mathews. He has gone back home," Sangakkara said.
In Dhoni's absence, Virender Sehwag will double the responsibility of captaining India and providing the team with a good start in the next two games and Sangakkara knows very well the importance of the swashbuckling opener's wicket.
"The only edge we can take is if we get him out early. We will go all out and make sure that he is out cheaply," the Sangakkara said. PTI
