COLOMBO: The Indian cricket team arrived in Colombo yesterday for a three-Test tour of Sri Lanka which begins with the first Test at Galle starting on August 12.
India start the tour with a three-day game against a Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at the R Premadasa Stadium on August 6.
India are touring Sri Lanka for a Test series after five years.
The second Test at P. Sara Oval will mark the end of Sri Lankan star batsman Kumar Sangakkara’s international career. The prolific batsman was set to retire from all forms of cricket after the ICC Cricket World Cup early this year, but extended his Test career by six months on a request made by Sri Lanka’s then chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya.
The 37-year-old stands fifth in the list of top run scorers in Test cricket. His 12,305 runs is the most by a Sri Lankan.
Experience
India will be led by prolific run scorer Virat Kohli. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is back in the Test squad. Compared to Indian teams of past, the current squad, especially their batting, is thin on experience.
Fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, spinners Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal, who weren’t part of the Sri Lankan side that played the limited over games are expected to return to the side. Exciting young talent Dushmantha Chameera has recovered from a side strain, but he is unlikely to feature in the first Test in Galle, but instead is expected to feature in the Colombo games.
Wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal and top order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, who were surprisingly left out of the T-20 series against Pakistan will also return to the squad.
The series was originally scheduled to be played in India, but on a request made by Sri Lanka Cricket the Board of Control for Cricket in India agreed to tour Sri Lanka. The series will provide Sri Lanka a financial boost through television revenue.