India would blame rain for their defeat at Manuka Oval on Tuesday. It made it a lottery when the game was reduced to 29-overs-a-side and the odds were further tilted in Sri Lanka's favour when the target still became better due to another interruption between the two innings. India was staring down the barrel all the time. Typically, Sanath Jayasuriya made it a no-contest inside the first three overs. The second over of Sreesanth made it a foregone conclusion with the Matara marauder helping himself to two sixes and a four. The balance had then irretrievably tilted in favour of the Lankans. India doesn't need to be too hard on themselves from this game but for the little profligacy which the medium-pacers showed in the early overs. They batted with control and once again Chaminda Vaas and Muthiah Muralitharan were reduced to having no effect on their batting. The young batsmen kept going down the track to Muthiah Muralitharan which hasn't happened often in international cricket. It was a pitch with good Carry and Sachin Tendulkar gauged it early to play some improvised flicks and dabs on the onside. It was vintage Sachin and every delivery he faced had some runs written on it. One more dismissal of the Delhi dasher came via his propensity to play with an open face of his bat. Gautam Gambhir must now be considered to have one of the quickest feet between the wickets. This Delhi lad runs really hard and with his range of strokes, to go with it, can drive any attack to nuts. That he was run out backing too far down the track shouldn't be held against him. He is soon evolving into a must in India's one-day plans. Rohit Sharma is another youngster who has grabbed his chances with both hands. In his last two innings, he has shown an adaptability which would grow the selectors' trust in him. In Melbourne, he was intent on denying Australians his wicket and here in Canberra, he went for broke in the final stages of his innings. His six off Murali, coming down the track and lifting it over midwicket, wouldn't be forgotten in a hurry. Mahinder Singh Dhoni may have had a lean Test series but in the one-dayers he is in a rich vein of form. He came ahead of Yuvraj Singh and nobody grudged him his promotion as he crunched some thunderous shots. He is proving a stable leader with good head and feet firmly planted on the ground. The win for Sri Lanka though has sparked the triangular into life. The next few games would have a lot riding on them. India needs to be really alert to the situation and can't afford to take their foot off the pedal. Ironically rain, which was accused of dampening interest in the series, has now infused life into it !