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Cuttack: 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 One-dayer 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 Lanka's practice session 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 this 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.
The Lanka skipper also made it clear that in the present scheme of things it would be very difficult to fit in veteran Sanath Jayasuriya into the playing eleven.
The 40-year-old Jayasuriya was pushed down the order to number four position in the opening match in Rajkot while he was dropped from the second ODI in Nagpur which Sri Lanka won by three wickets to level the series 1-1.
"Jayasuriya is a legend but the combination we played in Nagpur, it was hard to fit him in," Sangakkara said.
"Sometimes, the combinations do not allow certain players, even some great players, to get in the side. They all take it very well. We look for direct and honest communication. It's no different to anyone.
"As a player, you got to accept decisions that are sometime fair or sometime unfairly done. But at the end of the day all decisions are made for the interest of the side," he added.
Asked how difficult it is for a captain to go up to a senior player like Jayasuriya and put across the message that he has been dropped, Sangakkara said, "Be it any kind of player, senior or new to the side, it does not matter.
"If you have something to tell them, you have got to tell them. It has to be direct and sometimes it has to be subtle, depending on individual character."
"At the end of the day whether you take it in the right spirit or take it badly, it will show your real character. But all our guys accept the fact that you got to perform to stay in the side," he added.
Asked whether there is a chance of playing Jayasuriya in Monday's match, Sangakkara said, "There is a chance of everyone playing in the next game as long as we get the combination right."
