It is all about mind games and how to cope with them. For a start, India are going to feel quite happy with the result of the shortened first day's play of this Test series against Sri Lanka.
You can guarantee though that Kumar Sangakkara doesn't feel that way. After waiting four hours for the drizzle to stop and also the ground staff to get the outfield ready, the tall elegant left-hander's batting plans were undone by Zaheer Khan's ability to deliver the unexpected.
He had seen opener Michael Vandort offer the slips catching practice off Ishant Sharma 18 minutes into the Sri Lanka first innings and by the time he was becoming settled after a classic off-drive Zaheer's penchant for getting the most out of unresponsive conditions created an early opportunity for success.
The delivery he bowled cut sharply away off the seam and pulled Sangakkara forward, ball catching the outside edge of the bat and flying through to Rahul Dravid at second slip. Little wonder there was an overdose of high-fives. To pick up this wicket so early in the Sri Lankan innings was a bonus.
When bad light curtailed play after only 22 overs, India would feel comfortable with a brief afternoon's effort. Sri Lanka at 85-2 is better than 85-1 and the look of the pitch – dry and fissured – suggests that new cap Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan are in for a lot of hard work.
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