India might have beaten Sri Lanka 3-2 last August with a young bunch of cricketers but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday said seniors Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag would be the key to the visitors' fortunes in the one-day series starting here on Wednesday.

"Sri Lanka are a strong team. A lot depends on the conditions here and we have to adapt quickly. But we have two experienced players in Tendulkar and Sehwag with us this time," he said at the pre-match press conference.

Dhoni said he was aware of the threat from the home team's spin twins, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, but said his team was well prepared to face the challenge.

He admitted his side won't be able to stop Muralitharan from becoming the highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket but said the veteran spin wizard will have to earn his wickets.

"We will be very happy when he gets the record. It is another milestone for him and another one for Sri Lankan cricket,"

"Everyone knows the amount of hard work he has put in over the last 16 years, going through a lot of hardship. Now, after a few games, or even on Wednesday, he might hold the records in both Tests and one-dayers."

"India are a very competitive side. They pose a tough challenge for us. Their batting looks better this time, with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag returning to the one-day squad. I think batting will be their strength. They also have two good pacemen (Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma)."