Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara on Tuesday said his team would look to exploit Gautam Gambhir's absence from the Indian batting line-up in the third and final match to notch up their maiden Test win in the country.
"We hope to exploit Gambhir's absence. He is the batsman in form, he has scored a lot of runs this year, two hundreds against us in two Test matches. The absence of a quality player like that leaves a gap," Sangakkara said in the pre-match press conference.
Sangakkara, however, refused to underestimate Gambhir's replacement Murali Vijay, who has played just one Test in his still nascen international career.
"Gambhir's absence means the new guy coming in (M Vijay) will be really hungry to make a mark. To exploit that is our responsibility, we will try and do that," he said.
Gambhir will miss the series-decider to attend his sister's wedding in Delhi.
The visiting side's captain said his team is likely to add an extra seamer after playing three spinners during the big loss in the second Test, leaving out Ajantha Mendis from the playing XI this time.
"I think we will probably go with an extra fast bowler over a spinner on this track. The Kanpur track showed signs of a lot of wear and tear once the second day was over. Here it doesn't seem as dull as that, so the fast bowlers will have an equal chance as the spinners to make an impact. That will mean (Ajantha) Mendis will miss out," the Lanka captain said.
With Dammika Prasad ruled out due to a hamstring injury, Sri Lanka would go in with a three-pronged pace attack comprising left-armer Chanaka Welegedara, Angelo Mathews and either Nuwan Kulasekara or Dilhara Fernando.
Sangakkara indicated Kulasekara had a better chance than Fernando of making the eleven.
"In the last two to three series, Kulasekara has been an outstanding asset to us in Test cricket as well as one-day cricket. I think quality wise Kulasekara has the edge (over Dilhara Fernando)," Sangakkara said.
The Lanka captain also sprang to the defence of his struggling spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's highest wicket-taker in Tests, who has tasted very little success in the first two Tests.
"Murali is still our best spinner and in my view he is still the best spinner in the world. When you have that quality in the side, you have to back that quality and that ability. He is still the spearhead of our attack and we are backing him a hundred percent to turn it around and win a match for us," he said.
"He is still hungry. We just want him to enjoy himself in the side, feel that he is a valued member for as long as he wants to be with us and we really respect and enjoy the fact that he is with us in the dressing room and on the playing field," Sangakkara added. PTI
