India vs Sri Lanka Cricket Series 2008
2008 Beijing Olympics | India's First Live Webcam Site
Schedule
India in Sri Lanka Cricket Series 2008
India vs Sri Lanka ODI Series
IND vs SL, 2nd ODI, Dambulla: India may shuffle batting line up to counter Lankans
Aug 19, 2008
India may opt to shuffle their struggling batting line-up as they go into the second cricket one-dayer against Sri Lanka at Dambulla tomorrow hoping to find a way to regain their winning touch.
After losing the Test series, the Indians made a poor start to the one-dayers by losing the first game here by eight wickets and it will need a far more inspiring performance by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men to reverse their fortunes.
The absence of Virender Sehwag, who has been ruled out of the series because of an injury, has come as a big blow for the Indians who have been forced to have a re-look at the batting order.
The Indian think tank is now toying with the idea of shuffling the batting order for the crucial second game of the five-match series.
But with an average age of around 24 years, Dhoni and his men will have to move mountains to get a stranglehold of the on-going series and this may force the skipper to move himself and other seniors up the batting order.
However, Dhoni will be missing the fire power of his most experienced batsman Sehwag who can really be destructive on his day.
In that scenario, vice-captain Yuvraj Singh, who hit an explosive 172 in the lone practice match before the start of the ODI series, opener Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni himself will have to take the responsibilty on their shoulders to guide the relatively junior batsmen of the team.
Sri Lanka team (from): Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Malinda Warnapura, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara.
India team (from): M.S. Dhoni (capt. & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, S. Badrinath, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
Injured Sehwag out of Sri Lanka one-day series
Aug 19, 2008
India’s opener Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the ongoing one-day series against Sri Lanka due to an ankle injury, a top official said at Dambulla on Monday.
“He (Sehwag) is out of the series,” said Indian manager Sanjay Desai. Sehwag missed the opening one-dayer of the five-match series at Dambulla on Monday after failing to recover from the injury, sustained during a practice session on Sunday evening. India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said they would miss the in-form batsman, especially after the team’s eight-wicket defeat in the first match. “He was the batsman in top form. It (injury) was quite bad yesterday and he is still in the hotel,” Dhoni said during the post-match press conference.
“That’s the way it goes in cricket. You can’t really think about the guys you are missing. Instead, you must fill that space. That’s the only way the team can win.” Sehwag was the top scorer in the recent three-Test series against the hosts as he made 344 runs, including an unbeaten 201 in his team’s victory in the second match in Galle. India eventually lost the series 2-1. He has made 5,810 runs in 191 one-day internationals with nine hundreds and 29 half-centuries.
IND vs SL, 1st ODI, Dambulla: Sri Lanka beat India by eight wickets
Aug 18, 2008
Sri Lanka thrashed India by eight wickets Monday in the first one-day international with captain Mahela Jayawardene scoring an unbeaten 61.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India was dismissed for 146 runs in 46 overs - its worst one-day international total in Sri Lanka.
In reply, Sri Lanka scored 147-2 with 15 overs to spare in the opening match of the five-match series.
India's innings was 17 runs lower than its previous worst batting performance in Sri Lanka - 163 all out in 1998.
Young spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took 3-21, was named man of the match.
Despite its poor score, seam bowler Munaf Patel raised India's hopes with two early wickets. He dismissed opener Sanath Jayasuriya for 10 runs with India on 18. Jayasuriya stepped out to hit Patel only to sky the ball for a catch by Irfan Pathan.
Kumar Sangakkara (19) tried to force the ball through the on-side but instead gave a simple return catch to Patel to leave Sri Lanka at 45-2.
However, the dismissal brought Jayawardene and Chamara Kapugedera together who guided their team to victory with an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 102.
The second one-day match takes place Wednesday.
Sri Lanka Team: Jayasuriya, Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, Kapugedera, Silva, Dilshan, Vaas, Thushara, Kulasekara, Mendis, Muralitharan
India Team: Kohli, Gambhir, Raina, R Sharma, Yuvraj, Dhoni, I Pathan, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Ojha, Patel
IND vs SL, 1st ODI, Dambulla: Sri Lanka 147 for 2 (34.5 overs) beat India 146 all out (46.0 overs) by eight wickets
IND vs SL, 1st ODI, Dambulla: Openers Jayasuriya, Sehwag in explosive duel
Aug 18, 2008
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene are looking forward to an explosive start to their One-Day International series starting on Monday.
Sri Lanka's left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya may be 39, but remains a bowler's nightmare with his ability to change the course of a match with devastating stroke-play.
India will not easily forget their last encounter with the Sri Lankan, who hammered a quick-fire century under pressure to set up his team's victory in the Asia Cup final in Karachi last month.
India's Virender Sehwag is an opener in form, having already hurt Sri Lanka with an unbeaten double-century in his team's victory in the second Test of a recent three-match series.
Although India lost the series 2-1, Sehwag was one of the few batsmen to salvage batting pride as he emerged his team's top scorer with 344 runs.
"Jayasuriya in form is always a great thing because he can contribute with both bat and ball," Jayawardene said on Sunday.
"The start he gives makes a huge difference. If he stays for 10 or 15 overs, you are guaranteed a good start. He is a bit like Sehwag for India. That gives a different dimension to our set-up."
Jayasuriya has been haunting India ever since he cracked a 76-ball 79 in a 1996 World Cup match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in New Delhi to power his team to an emphatic victory.
He was a trendsetter, redefining batting in the 1996 Cup with his consistent over-the-top hitting in the early overs to take advantage of fielding restrictions.
Other teams followed suit, bringing in a hard-hitter at the top of the order. Jayasuriya appears to have a special liking for the Indian attack, having scored 2,429 runs in 74 matches with six hundreds. His best in 416 One-Day Internationals - 189 at Sharjah in 2000 - also came against India.
He is the second-highest scorer in One-Day Internationals with 12,688 runs, behind only India's Sachin Tendulkar (16,361).
Like the Sri Lankan, the 29-year-old Sehwag is also capable of dominating any attack on any surface with rich stroke-play. The Indian has scored 5,810 runs in 191 matches with nine hundreds and 29 half-centuries.
"Whenever he (Sehwag) gives us a good start we have a fair chance of winning the match," said Dhoni.
"A good start is very important in any form of cricket, but it does not mean the entire pressure is on the openers. Sehwag is a sort of player who takes a fair amount of risk. He is a stroke-player.
"He is in a very good nick and so is Gautam Gambhir. They did well in the Tests also and will have added responsibility, but no pressure."
Dhoni said it was important for his team to dismiss Jayasuriya early.
"Jayasuriya can be compared with Sehwag or (retired Australian) Adam Gilchrist. It is important not to let them have a good start," said Dhoni.
"They are the batsmen who take chances. They can commit mistakes if you try to restrict them. All these players are very different, but for someone like Jayasuriya, it's important to get him out early."
India and Sri Lanka will play five One-Day Internationals, with the first two to be held here and the remaining three in Colombo.
Sri Lanka team (from): Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Malinda Warnapura, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara.
India team (from): M.S. Dhoni (capt. & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, S. Badrinath, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
IND vs SL XI, Warm up Match, Colombo: Yuvraj fires India to easy win in warm-up match
Aug 11, 2008
Yuvraj Singh geared up for the one-day series against Sri Lanka with an explosive 172 to power India to a comfortable 92-run victory in a practice match at Colombo on Friday.
The left-hander smashed 13 sixes and eight fours in his 121-ball knock as the tourists posted a challenging 342-5 before restricting a Sri Lankan XI to 250-6 in a 50-over clash.
The five-match one-day series starts in Dambulla on Monday.
Yuvraj went on the rampage after completing his century, hitting four successive sixes off spinner Jehan Mubarak. He was caught at deep mid-wicket by Mahela Udawatte while attempting a big hit off seamer Chanaka Welegedara.
"The knock gave me a lot of confidence. I had prepared well before coming here and hope to maintain my form. My intention was to spend time in the middle because I haven't played for a while. Then I played my strokes," said Yuvraj.
"The conditions will be different in Dambulla, so we tried to have partnerships to make a good total. It's important we play according to the conditions and that's what we will try there."
Yuvraj was involved in three valuable stands, adding 77 for the third wicket with Suresh Raina (45), 85 for the next with Rohit Sharma (24) and 99 for the sixth wicket with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20 not out).
The hosts never looked like reaching the stiff target despite impressive half-centuries from middle-order batsman Mubarak (60) and left-handed opener Upul Tharanga (50).
Left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan was the most successful Indian bowler, taking 2-48, while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed 1-38 off 10 tight overs.
Sri Lanka won the recent Test series with India 2-1.
IND vs SL XI, Warm up Match, Colombo: India 342-5 in 50 overs beat Sri Lankan XI 250-6 in 50 overs by 92 runs
India vs Sri Lanka Test Series
Kumble blames it on batsmen
Aug 11, 2008
India captain Anil Kumble has blamed their defeat in the Test series in Sri Lanka on his side's batting. Only Virender Sehwag registered a century for India in the series - an unbeaten 201in the second Test, which India won. Indian batsmen handed Sri Lanka a 2-1 series win.
| Tests |
1st Test
Colombo |
2nd Test
Galle |
3rd Test
Colombo |
Avg. |
Total |
|
Batsman / Innings
|
I
|
II
|
I
|
II
|
I
|
II
|
|
V Sehwag
|
25
|
13
|
201
|
50
|
21
|
34
|
68.80
|
344
|
|
G Gambhir
|
39
|
43
|
56
|
74
|
72
|
26
|
51.66
|
310
|
|
R Dravid
|
14
|
10
|
2
|
44
|
10
|
68
|
24.66
|
148
|
|
S Tendulkar
|
27
|
12
|
5
|
31
|
6
|
14
|
15.83
|
95
|
|
S Ganguly
|
23
|
4
|
0
|
16
|
35
|
18
|
16.00
|
96
|
|
VVS Laxman
|
56
|
21
|
39
|
13
|
25
|
61
|
43.00
|
215
|
|
D Karthik
|
9
|
0
|
7
|
20
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
9.00
|
36
|
|
P Patel
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
DNP
|
13
|
1
|
7.00
|
14
|
|
A Kumble
|
1
|
12
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
9
|
4.83
|
29
|
|
H Singh
|
9
|
15
|
1
|
11
|
3
|
26
|
10.83
|
65
|
|
Z Khan
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
32
|
0
|
8.60
|
43
|
|
I Sharma
|
13
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
17
|
0
|
11.66
|
35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
India Total
|
223
|
138
|
329
|
269
|
249
|
268
|
-
|
-
|
|
Sri Lanka Total
|
600/6
|
-
|
292
|
136
|
396
|
123/2
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Result
|
SL won by an innings and 239 runs
|
IND won by 170 runs
|
SL won by 8 wickets
|
SL won the Series 2-1
|
Italics are not out
Injured Tendulkar out of Sri Lanka one-dayers
Aug 11, 2008
Ace Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar will miss the upcoming one-day series in Sri Lanka due to an elbow injury, an Indian official said at Colombo on Monday.
Tendulkar, the world's leading scorer in one-day internationals with 16,361 runs in 417 matches, sustained the injury while attempting a catch on Saturday during the third and final Test against Sri Lanka here.
He had returned for the Tests after missing a triangular one-day series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan recently due to injuries.
Indian team manager T. C. Mathew said Tendulkar would be leaving for home soon.
Sri Lanka, who won the Test series 2-1 on Monday, will now take on the tourists in a five-match one-day series starting in Dambulla on Aug 18.
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 4, Colombo: Sri Lanka clinch India Test cricket series (2:1)
Aug 11, 2008
Sri Lanka survived early blows to clinch the series against an injury-ridden India with a comfortable eight-wicket victory on the penultimate day of the third and final Test at Colombo on Monday.
The hosts lost Michael Vandort and Kumar Sangakkara in the opening seven overs before reaching a 122-run target in the closing session, thanks to Malinda Warnapura (54 not out) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (50 not out).
Sri Lanka had won the opening Test by an innings and 239 runs and India the second match by 170 runs.
India, trailing by 147 runs, were bowled out for 268 in their second innings despite gutsy half-centuries from a struggling Rahul Dravid (68) and an injured Venkatsai Laxman (61 not out).
The tourists were without paceman Ishant Sharma, who batted with a runner but was unfit to bowl after falling on his follow-through on Saturday.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh shared the new ball with Zaheer Khan and struck with his fourth delivery when he bowled out-of-form opener Vandort (eight), who finished the series with just 39 runs.
Zaheer claimed a big wicket in his fourth over when he removed Sangakkara, who drove straight to Gautam Gambhir at mid-off. Sangakkara, who made a solid 144 in the first innings, contributed only four.
There were no more hiccups for Sri Lanka as Jayawardene and left-handed Warnapura made the most of India's depleted attack, adding 101 for the unfinished third-wicket stand.
Mendis was named man of the series and Sangakkara man of the match for his brilliant hundred.
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 4, Colombo: Sri Lanka 396 & 123 for 2 beat India 249 & 268 by 8 wickets
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 3, Colombo: Sri Lanka close in on victory
Aug 10, 2008
Sri Lanka completed a dominant day by taking five evening-session wickets to propel them towards victory in the series-deciding third Test against India in Colombo.
India had laboured before eventually bowling out their hosts for 396 midway through the middle session, conceding a first-innings deficit of 147.
And after tea, debutant Dammika Prasad removed India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in consecutive overs before the middle order again succumbed to the spinning threat of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis to slump to 161 for five at the close - a lead of just 14 runs.
Veteran Rahul Dravid remained at the crease on 46, while VVS Laxman, who was demoted to seven in a failed bid to buy him time as he recovers from the rolled ankle he sustained in Saturday's warm-up session, was also unbeaten on 17.
Earlier, Sri Lanka's lower order had helped the hosts gain control of the match as they took advantage of a sluggish Indian display in the field.
Starting the day with a two-run lead and four wickets in hand, Kumar Sangakkara advanced to 144 before being dismissed by Anil Kumble.
Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene scored 49 and Prasad also made a useful contribution of 36 to give the home side the initiative.
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 3, Colombo: India 249 & 161 for 5 (45.0 overs) vs Sri Lanka 396
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 2, Colombo: Sangakkara helps Sri Lanka gain lead in cricket Test
Aug 09, 2008
Kumar Sangakkara cracked a solid unbeaten 107 to help Sri Lanka gain a slender advantage over injury-hit India in the crucial third and final Test on Saturday.
The left-hander was involved in two valuable partnerships as the hosts reached 251-6 in their first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to India's 249. Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on one.
Sangakkara put on 95 for the third wicket with nightwatchman Chaminda Vaas (47) and 60 for the fifth with Thilan Samaraweera (35) on an absorbing day of cricket.
Sangakkara rarely erred in shot selection during his long innings, driving, cutting and pulling remarkably well on the way to his 17th hundred in 76 Tests. He has so far struck 11 fours in his 226-ball knock.
India struck twice in the final session just when it looked as though Sri Lanka were on course for a big lead, with left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan having Samaraweera caught behind and Anil Kumble trapping Tillakaratne Dilshan (23) leg-before.
The series is tied at 1-1, with Sri Lanka winning the opening Test by an innings and 239 runs and India clinching a 170-run victory in the second match.
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 2, Colombo: India 249 all out (80.0 overs) vs Sri Lanka 251 for 6 (92.0 overs)
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 1, Colombo: Mendis five-wicket haul restricts India to 249
Aug 08, 2008
Indian middle order failed yet again but opener Gautam Gambhir (72) and a 51-run last wicket stand helped the visitors post 249 against Sri Lanka even as mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis picked five wickets on the opening day of the third and final Test at Colombo today.
Besides Mendis, debutant Dhammika Prasad snared three early wickets and spin wizard Mutthiah Muralitharan picked two as India failed to take advantage of winning the toss on a bouncy Premadasa track here.
Sri Lanka were were 14 for loss of one wicket at close with Michael Wandort (3) and night watchman Chaminda Vaas (0) at the crease. Malinda Warnapura was the only Lankan wicket to fall, bowled by pacer Ishant Sharma minutes before the stumps were drawn.
Earlier, hostile fast bowling by Prasad put India on the back foot even as Gambhir ploughed a lone furrow with his patient half century.
Later, Mendis ended up with a figure of five wickets for 56 runs and Muralitharan took two for 58 runs to send India packing.
Interestingly, most of third umpire review decisions was on India's favour today.
Trying to weather the initial bounce, openers Virender Sehwag and Gambhir tried to keep the scoreboard ticking through some crafty drives.
But Sehwag was the first to go after he failed to cash in on a dropped catch by Malinda Warnapura off the bowling of Prasad at short leg and was finally out for 21.
Indians innings was in shambles, but a matured last wicket partnership between Zaheer (32) and Sharma (17), the highest against Sri Lanka, saved the visitors from further humiliation.
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Day 1, Colombo: India 249 all out (80.0 overs) vs Sri Lanka 14 for 1 (8.0 overs)
IND v SL, 3rd Test, Colombo: Sri Lanka and India ready for decider
Aug 07, 2008
Having rebounded from a crushing defeat in the first test to win the second, India is confident of carrying on its momentum to a series victory over Sri Lanka when the third and final test begins Friday.
"In terms of confidence, in terms of strategy, we have done whatever we can to ensure we win the test and the series," India captain Anil Kumble said at practice Thursday.
"We've done that once, against Australia in 2001, if I remember right, having been down 1-0."
Kumble was unconcerned by the relatively poor form of India's star-studded middle-order batting — comprising Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly — in the first two tests.
The four have scored just 329 runs between themselves in the series.
"I'm not worried, if they score runs which is due, things will be fine," Kumble said.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene called on his side to show character and display its best form in Colombo.
"We have played some really good cricket against a quality side that has plenty of experience and we have shown that we can compete with them well and match them and even beat them," Jayawardene said.
Sri Lanka will make one change to the team that lost in Galle, dropping seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for either of the quicker Thilan Thushara Mirando or uncapped Dammika Prasad.
"We lacked a bit of pace, not hurrying the batsmen enough," Jayawardene said. "They are bowling tidy spells, but they need to attack the batsmen."
Sri Lanka will retain out-of-form opening batsman Michael Vandort, who has scored just 17 runs in the three outings.
"We had a chat to Michael and there shouldn't be any undue pressure on him because he was batting well before this test (series)," Jayawardene said. "There are couple of senior Indian batsmen too who are going through a similar trot."
India may change wicketkeepers, bringing in Parthiv Patel for Dinesh Karthik who had failed to impress with the bat and gloves in the first two tests.
Sri Lanka Team (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara Mirando.
India Team (from): Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan.
Harbhajan Singh back in India one-day squad
Aug 07, 2008
India has recalled ace spinner Harbhajan Singh to its squad for this month's five-match limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, while resting pace spearhead Ishant Sharma.
India's selectors Thursday elected to bring Singh back to the limited-overs squad after his five-match suspension for slapping fellow national squad player Shantakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic twenty20 tournament in April.
Singh, who is currently playing in the test series in Sri Lanka, missed a Bangladesh tri-series and the Asia Cup in Pakistan due to the five-match ban imposed on him by Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Also recalled to the one-day squad were star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and pace bowler Zaheer Khan, who had been sidelined with injuries but are both featuring in ongoing test series in Sri Lanka.
The Indian cricket board's secretary, Niranjan Shah said Mahendra Dhoni will be back to lead the team against Sri Lanka and the biennial Champions Trophy, after missing the tests against Sri Lanka. Dhoni was rested after playing nonstop cricket for a couple of years.
Shah said India will send 16 players for the one-dayers in Sri Lanka, and the squad will be reduced to 15 for the Champions Trophy in September. Paceman Munaf Patel and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel will be omitted and Sharma brought back in.
The selectors also brought in rookie middle-order batsman Virat Kohli, while dropping batsman Robin Uthappa, allrounder Yusuf Pathan and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla from the squad that lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka.
India Team:
Mahendra Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Pragyan Ojha; Ishant Sharma (to miss Sri Lanka series); Munaf Patel and Parthiv Patel (to be omitted ahead of Champions Trophy).
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 4: India win by 170 runs to level series (1:1)
Aug 03, 2008
Offspinner Harbhajan Singh bagged a 10-wicket match haul Sunday as India claimed the last five Sri Lanka wickets for just six runs to win the second Test and square the series.
After a humiliating innings defeat in the series opener, India salvaged its reputation with a strong performance with the ball and will go into Friday's deciding Test in Colombo with momentum.
Chasing a target of 307 runs to win in the second innings, Sri Lanka lost their way early, losing four top-order wickets for 37 runs on the fourth day.
Opener Virender Sehwag who hammered an unbeaten 201 and followed it up with a 50 in the second innings was named man of the match.
A 76-run partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan looked to resurrect the innings as they went for tea at 109-4, but Singh struck soon after tea when he had Dilshan (38) lbw, triggering a precipitous collapse by the tail.
Thilan Samaraweera's unbeaten 67 was the only highlight for the hosts who capitulated meekly against some aggressive Indian bowling.
Samaraweera faced 126 balls and hit eight boundaries as he watched wickets tumble at the other end.
India, which had a 37-run lead on first innings, was bowled out for 269 in its second innings in Sunday's opening session, giving Sri Lanka an achievable chase.
However India immediately savaged the top order, quickly reducing Sri Lanka to 10-3.
Ishant Sharma found the edge of Malinda Warnapura's bat, with V.V.S. Laxman snapping up the catch to dismiss the opener for a duck, with the score on 4.
Zaheer Khan nailed the dangerous Kumar Sangakkara (1) in the next over, also caught by Laxman, before captain Mahela Jayawardene (5) slashed at Sharma and was taken by Rahul Dravid at cover-point.
Resuming after lunch at 24-3, Sri Lanka soon lost an out-of-form Michael Vandort (10) trapped lbw by Singh.
After Dilshan's departure early in the final session, Sri Lanka could not find a tailender who was able to hang in and support Samaraweera.
Singh finished with 4-51 for the innings to record his fifth ten-wicket match haul.
That matched the effort of young Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis, who also claimed 10 match wickets in only his second Test.
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 4: India 329 & 269 beat Sri Lanka 292 & 136 by 170 runs
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 3: Sri Lanka bounces back in Galle
Aug 02, 2008
Sri Lanka has grabbed three big wickets in the closing session to throw the second Test against India wide open on the third day in Galle.
India was strongly placed at 1 for 144 before slipping to 4 for 200 in its second innings at stumps, with Muttiah Muralidaran, Ajantha Mendis and Chaminda Vaas sharing wickets.
The tourists are now only 237 ahead with six wickets in hand.
Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had yet to open their accounts when bad light stopped play.
India appeared to have seized the initiative after attacking knocks from Gautam Gambhir (74), Virender Sehwag (50), Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (31), before losing their way.
Sri Lanka was bowled out for 292 in its first innings on the stroke of lunch in reply to India's 329, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene top-scoring with a stylish 86.
Off spinner Harbhajan played a big role in India gaining the lead as he grabbed 6 for 102 for his 22nd haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.
He was brilliantly supported by leg-spinner Kumble (3 for 81).
Sri Lanka leads 1-0 in the three-match series following its win by an innings and 239 runs in the opening Test in Colombo.
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 3: India 329 & 200 for 4 (56.4 overs) v Sri Lanka 292 all out (93.3 overs)
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 2: India battles back through Harbhajan Singh
Aug 01, 2008
Harbhajan Singh bagged four quick wickets in a magnificent spell to put Sri Lanka under pressure in the second Test against India at Galle on Friday.
The off-spinner (4-71) removed well-set Kumar Sangakkara and Malinda Warnapura in successive overs before Sri Lanka struggled to reach 215-5 in their first innings at stumps in reply to India's 329 on the second day.
Sangakkara (68) and Warnapura (66) helped Sri Lanka overcome the third-ball dismissal of Michael Vandort with a 133-run stand for the second wicket before Harbhajan struck to restore India's fortunes on a spinners' day.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on 46 and Prasanna Jayawardene on five not out at the close of play.
Earlier, spinner Ajantha Mendis (6-117) claimed a five-wicket haul in just his second Test to end India's first innings, which was highlighted by an imperious double-century from opener Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag was 201 not out when India's last wicket fell at lunch on the second day, bringing up the right-hander's fifth Test double-century. He also passed the 5,000 career Test-runs milestone in his 59th match. He amassed his double century from just 231 deliveries, studded with 22 fours and four sixes.
India resumed the day at 214-4, and Sehwag shared 100 runs with V.V.S Laxman for the fifth wicket to steady India's innings after a middle-order slump.
Mendis broke the partnership when he had Laxman caught by Samaraweera for 39, sparking a collapse that saw the visitors lose their last five wickets for just 51 runs.
Sri Lanka can clinch the three-match series with victory in this Test, having won the first Test by an innings and 239 runs.
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 2: India 329 all out (82.0 overs) v Sri Lanka 215 for 5 (61.0 overs)
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 1: India reach 214-4 on first day
July 31, 2008
Sri Lanka claimed four late wickets in quick succession Thursday to seize the initiative back from India after a rain-shortened opening day of the second Test.
India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir combined for an opening stand of 167 that put the visitors on top, and seemingly en route for redemption after a massive loss in the first test.
However, once play resumed after a long rain break, Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis (2-74) and seamer Chaminda Vaas (2-57) won back the advantage by reducing India to 214-4 at stumps at Galle International Stadium.
India captain Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat, and Sehwag (128 not out) and Gambhir (56) ripped the bowlers apart with some positive batting and took India to 151-0 at lunch off just 29 overs. Gambhir also received a reprieve when dropped on 13.
Sehwag resumed his charge after the stoppage, hoisting a delivery from Vaas for six over long-on and driving him straight back to the boundary to reach his 15th test hundred.
Mendis broke the openers' assault by trapping Gambhir lbw. Gambhir challenged his dismissal under the new law which allows a player to seek a video review of umpiring decision, but third umpire Mark Benson of England agreed with field umpire Billy Doctrove that he was out.
With the breakthrough, four wickets fell for just 11 runs and India were soon reduced to 178-4.
India's star batsmen Rahul Dravid (2), Sachin Tendulkar (5) and Sourav Ganguly (0) were all dismissed cheaply.
Dravid was caught at silly mid-on by Malinda Warnapura off Mendis, Vaas snared the dangerous Tendulkar lbw and later had Ganguly caught behind.
Sehwag and V.V.S Laxman began rebuilding India's innings, sharing 36 runs unbeaten for the fifth wicket.
Sehwag, who hit 19 fours and two sixes in 122 balls, said that 350 to 400 runs could be a challenging first-innings score on the Galle pitch known to assist spin bowling in the last two days.
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle, Day 1: India 214-2 v Sri Lanka
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle: Prasad added to Sri Lanka squad
July 29, 2008
Uncapped fast bowler Dammika Prasad has been added to the Sri Lanka squad for the second Test with India.
Sri Lanka beat the tourists by an innings and 239 runs with a whole day to spare in the opening Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis taking all but one of the 20 wickets over the two innings.
Prasad, a 25-year-old fast bowler, has played in three One-day Internationals, taking three wickets. The second Test begins at Galle International Stadium on Thursday.
IND v SL, 2nd Test, Galle: Indian team concentrates on spin bowling
July 29, 2008
It was a strenuous work out for the Indian team on Tuesday with stress on tackling the spin bowlers and working on close in catches as it prepared to put the ignominy of defeat in the opener behind and move ahead for the second cricket Test at Galle on Thursday.
Looking at the players they do not seem sure whether to take the menacing Muttaiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis head on or opt for a copy book defence. While the Indians took to the nets since 9.30 am and ended in the afternoon, the Sri Lankan players resumed their session only at 2 pm.
The prominent green grass blades on the ground and the developed pitch seem to promise an interesting match between the two Asian cricketing giants though the Indians would begin as underdogs going by the humiliating defeat in the first outing.
The seemingly small boundaries could tempt players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Kumara Sangakkara to have a go at the bowlers.
The locals in the city are one in stating they would not like to miss the opportunity and watch the match at least for a day. The hoteliers are aghast that Galle has been overlooked as the venue for one-dayers against India which could have sent their cash registers ringing.
The picturesque Galle International Stadium is located amidst the meandering roads that head for the Galle Fort and people can even view the match atop the old European style fort.
The 16th century Dutch fort has the Galle harbour on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other and is located about 130 kms from Colombo. A world heritage site, the fort is one of the largest in Asia built by European occupiers.
Despite the longer version of the game being played here, the hotels owners are optimistic of increase in occupancy at the eleventh hour after Sri Lanka drubbed India in the Colombo Test.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 4: India crash to big defeat after Murali-Mendis magic (1:0)
July 26, 2008
Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis made a mockery of India's strong batting reputation as Sri Lanka won the opening Test by a record innings and 239 runs at Colombo on Saturday.
Maverick off-spinner Muralitharan finished the match with 11 wickets as India were shot out for 138 in their second innings after conceding a lead of 377 on the fourth day.
He was brilliantly supported by debutant Mendis, an unorthodox spinner with plenty of variation, who took eight wickets in the match to also play a crucial role in his team's victory with a day to spare.
It was Sri Lanka's biggest win over India in 27 Tests, the previous being by an innings and 77 runs at the same venue in 2001.
The Indian batsmen, always considered better against spin than pace, looked clueless against the Sri Lankan spin duo, who kept striking at regular intervals even on an easy-paced track.
The tourists lost 14 wickets against spin in the day, including four in the first innings.
None of the Indian batsmen could read the spin duo as the tourists' second innings lasted just 45 overs, with man-of-the-match Muralitharan grabbing 6-26 and Mendis 4-60 during their almost unplayable spells.
India were earlier bowled out for 223 in their first innings in reply to the hosts' massive 600-6 declared.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 4: Sri Lanka 600-6 dec beat India 223 & 138 by an innings and 239 runs
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 3: India hope to avoid embarrassing follow-on
July 25, 2008
Muttiah Muralitharan shattered India's star-studded top order Friday with four wickets to put Sri Lanka firmly in command of the first test.
India closed the third day's play at 159-6 in reply to the hosts' 600-6 declared - a score that included a Sri Lankan record-equalling four centuries.
India needs a further 241 runs to avoid the follow-on, with just four lower order wickets in hand.
Muralitharan took four for 38, picking up the wickets of opener Gautam Gambhir (39), Sachin Tendulkar (27), Sourav Ganguly (23) and Dinesh Karthik (9).
Opener Virender Sehwag (25) was the first man out after a typically hard-hitting innings that had one too many aggressive shots, caught at deep square leg off seamer Nuwan Kulasekara. India went to tea at a decent 72-1, but five wickets fell in the final session to put the tourists in trouble.
The collapse began soon after tea with Gambhir driving in the air against Muralitharan to be caught at short mid-wicket by Thilan Samaraweera.
Spinner Ajantha Mendis, on Test debut, bowled Rahul Dravid for 14 after the ball pitched on leg stump and turned to brush off stump.
Tendulkar, who came to the crease needing 172 runs to take the world record for most Test runs from former West Indies captain Brian Lara, misread a straight ball from Muralitharan and was bowled off an inside edge.
Ganguly tried to hit Muralitharan across the line, but top-edged his sweep and was caught in the deep by Nuwan Kulasekara.
At stumps, V.V.S Laxman was on 19 with captain Anil Kumble on 1.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 3: Sri Lanka 600-6 dec v India 159-6
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 2: Dilshan earns reprieve under Test cricket review trial
July 24, 2008
Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan on Thursday became the first beneficiary of an experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions in Test cricket.
Dilshan was initially given out caught behind off left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan by umpire Mark Benson of England, but asked the official to review the decision on the second day of the first Test against India at Colombo.
Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision as the ball had not touched the bat. Dilshan was then on one.
The rule is on trial in the current three-Test series. A batsman or fielding captain can request a review of any decision by referring it to the third official monitoring television replays.
Each team is allowed three unsuccessful review requests per innings but if one is successful they will get an additional appeal.
India made two unsuccessful leg-before appeals against Sri Lankans Malinda Warnapura and Dilshan off spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Left-handed opener Warnapura was on 86 and Dilshan on 19 when India captain Anil Kumble asked Benson to review the initial not-out decisions. Benson was proved right on both the occasions after consulting the TV umpire.
Warnapura went on to score 115, his second century in five Tests before falling in the afternoon session.
Dilshan was unbeaten on 20 as Sri Lanka reached 422-4 in their first innings at stumps.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 2: Sri Lanka 422-4 v India
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 1: Rain curtails play on the first day
July 23, 2008
Sri Lankan opener Malinda Warnapura defied India's attack with an unbeaten half-century on the opening day of the rain-hit first Test on Wednesday.
The hosts lost two wickets cheaply after electing to bat in overcast conditions, but left-handed Warnapura (50 not out) helped his team reach 85-2 in the first innings at stumps.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was the other not-out batsman on 16 when play was called off due to bad light with 20 overs remaining. No play was possible before tea because of the rain.
Indian fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan shared the wickets.
Sri Lanka's latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis made his Test debut, just a few weeks after leading his side to victory with a six-wicket haul against India in the Asia Cup final in Karachi early this month.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo, Day 1: Sri Lanka 85-2 v India
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo: Umpire challenge system, Tendulkar batting record draws focus in Sri Lanka-India test series
July 23, 2008
The test series between Sri Lanka and India could be pivotal for three reasons: the umpire challenge system going on trial, Sachin Tendulkar targeting a batting world record and spin bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis making his debut.
The three-test series beginning Wednesday at Sinhalese Sport Club will for the first time allow players to challenge umpiring decisions and have them referred to TV replays.
The system takes the lead of tennis, which has used a similar challenge system to challenge decisions in Grand Slams since 2006.
Mendis who became an instant star with his stunning bowling return of 6-13 in the Asia Cup final against India earlier this month is very likely to make his test debut Wednesday.
With its bowling attack weakened through injury to Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof, Sri Lanka has named Mendis as a second specialist spinner alongside veteran Muttiah Muralitharan in a 14-member squad.
Mendis' six wickets in a 100-run win over India helped Sri Lanka defend the Asia Cup limited-overs title in Pakistan earlier this month. He has so far played in eight limited-overs internationals and taken 20 wickets.
The Indians are confident of giving him a tougher initiation in the test arena.
Kumble said India's test batting order, featuring Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S.Laxman, has enough quality and experience to tackle all the Sri Lankan bowlers — particularly Mendis.
Kumble was expecting, as usual, the main threat from Sri Lanka to come from Muralitharan, the world's leading test wicket taker, and veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas.
Tendulkar, returning to the test side after a groin injury, is set to overtake former West Indies captain Brian Lara as test cricket's leading run scorer during the series. The 35-year-old has 11,782 test runs and needs 172 more to surpass Lara.
Kumble indicated Tendulkar would be among six specialist batsmen, backed up by Dinesh Karthik, an accomplished wicketkeeper batsman, and four bowlers. He said there was unlikely to be changes from the side that played a three-day warmup match last week.
Sri Lanka Team (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Ajantha Mendis and Chamara Kapugedera.
India Team (from): Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
IND v SL, 1st Test, Colombo: Sri Lanka team announced for 1st Test against India
July 22, 2008
Sri Lanka has announced a 14-member team for the first Test against India, beginning from July 23 at Colombo.
Young spinner Ajantha Mendis has been included in the host squad. He had diverted the cricket world’s attention towards him for his excellent bowling in the recent Asia Cup cricket tournament. He is expected to be given Test cap in the match, starting from July 23.
Sri Lanka team:
Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chamara Kapugedera.
Gambhir hits unbeaten 60 as Indians draw warmup match
July 20, 2008
Opener Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten 60 runs Sunday as a touring Indian side drew their three-day warmup match against a Sri Lanka Board XI.
Chasing a target of 276 runs to win, the Indians were 129 for two wickets when stumps were drawn on the final day at Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo.
India faces Sri Lanka in three tests starting July 23 at Colombo, but it played this warmup match under the name "Indians."
Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka Board XI were dismissed for 224. In reply the Indians declared their first innings for 196 for eight wickets, conceding the hosts a 28-run first innings lead.
Sachin Tendulkar top scored with 69 runs while Dinesh Karthik made 58 not out.
Sri Lanka Board XI ended its second innings at 247 for 6. Chamara Silva followed up his 68 runs in the first innings with an unbeaten 59 in the second.
Indian bowlers hit form
July 19, 2008
India started their tour of Sri Lanka on an impressive note with their bowlers putting up a tidy performance to bundle out Sri Lanka Board XI for a modest 224 on a rain-truncated opening day of the three-day warm-up match at Colombo on Friday.
Electing to bat, the home team never really recovered from a shaky start and could have been skittled out for a much lower first-innings total had it not been for a resolute 100-run fifth-wicket partnership between Thilina Kandamby (84) and Chamara Silva (68).
Captain Anil Kumble (3/30) was the pick of the Indian bowlers while pacer Zaheer Khan (2/35) and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2/52) chipped in with two wickets each at the Nondescripts Cricket Club. The Indians, playing their only warm-up match before the three-match Test series gets underway on July 23, were struggling at four for one at close with opener Gautam Gambhir back in the pavilion.
The track at the NCC gave some assistance to the bowlers, and the visitors exploited the conditions reasonably well to capture wickets at periodic intervals. The lanky pacer Ishant Sharma drew first blood for the Indians by getting rid of opener Mahela Udawatte (7), with wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik taking a smart catch.
Upul Tharanga, the other opener, returned to the pavilion soon after to reduce the hosts to a precarious 20 for two with Zaheer, returning to international cricket after a brief injury layoff, picking up his first scalp. The home team was left gasping at 82 for four as captain Jehan Mubarak (25) and Chamara Kapudegera (1) fell in quick succession to give the Indians a firm control of the game.
But Kandamby and Chamara Silva stemmed the rot with a crucial partnership as they mixed caution with aggression to bail the team out of a tight spot. Kandamby slammed 11 boundaries during his 138-ball knock while Silva hit six boundaries during his innings, which came off 108 balls.
After the two batsmen were dismissed, the tail-enders caved in quickly and the innings folded up in 71.5 overs. The Indian bowlers did a good job but the fielding was not up to the mark though it improved as the match progressed.
Harbhajan Singh took his own time to find his length and direction though he ended up with two wickets.
Sri Lanka's Jayawardene eager to renew India rivalry
July 16, 2008
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Wednesday his team was keen to renew the rivalry with India in a three-Test series starting at Colombo next week.
"Personally, I have a couple of milestones against India. I made my Test debut against them and also scored my first Test double-century against them. It's a pretty good team for me to play against," said Jayawardene.
"We thoroughly enjoy playing India at home or away. It's always been a tough challenge. There is good rivalry with our neighbours."
Jayawardene, who made his Test debut in 1997 against India, hit 242 against them during the Asian Test championship match in 1999.
The Sri Lankan captain, with 7,478 runs in 95 Tests, said the series would be closely contested as both the teams had quality players.
"Every time we have played them, there has been good cricket as both the teams have some quality players. I am sure the public will have a great series to watch," he said.
Sri Lanka last hosted India for a Test series in 2001, winning 2-1 after a close contest. The tourists were without key spinner Anil Kumble and batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who were injured.
Tendulkar is now just 172 short of breaking retired West Indies captain Brian Lara's world record of 11,953 Test runs.
"We are going to treat Sachin in the same manner as anybody else in the Indian camp. It will be a great milestone if he achieves it, but our focus will be on winning the series," said Jayawardene.
India captain Kumble was confident of his team's good show in Sri Lanka, saying they would like to maintain the consistency.
"We have done well in the lead-up to the Test series. In the last one year or so we have been consistent with our performances. That's something we will take forward," said Kumble.
India's bowling attack will be at full strength with the return of left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who has not figured in a Test this year due to injuries.
"We have Zaheer back with his experience of bowling in sub-continental conditions. Ishant Sharma has really progressed well as a seamer, and Harbhajan Singh is back as well," said Kumble.
"The last time we played Sri Lanka in India (in 2005) we beat them, so we are confident."
The skipper said his team had quality batsmen to succeed against Sri Lanka's latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, who could make his Test debut against the tourists.
Mendis outwitted Indian batsmen with clever variations in the recent Asia Cup final in Karachi, where he bagged six wickets for 13 runs to lead his team to victory.
"Our middle order has more than 30,000 Test runs and four of them have played more than 100 Tests," said Kumble.
"It will be challenging and I am sure our batsmen will definitely cope with that. It is something we need to be on the lookout for."
India open their tour with a three-day practice match in Colombo on Friday. They will also play five one-day internationals after the Test series.
Indian team to practice in Chennai before SL tour
July 12, 2008
Anil Kumble-led Indian cricket team will have a day's physical conditioning and net practice on Monday in Chennai before embarking on their tour to Sri Lanka on July 15.
Dr R N Baba, Media Manager of the Indian cricket administration, said that Kumble and Coach Gary Kirsten would address the media on July 14 after their practice sessions.
India is scheduled to play a three-Test series from July 23 to August 12 and then start their five-match one day series from August 18 to 29.
Since 1982 India and Sri Lanka have played in 26 Test matches with India having won 10 matches, including two at Colombo and Kandy while the Lankan's victories have come about at home in Colombo (twice) and Galle. Three matches have been drawn.
The Lankans in their last three-test series in India lost zero-two. After drawing the Chennai test, India won the next two at Delhi and Ahmedabad.
BCCI announces squad for Sri Lanka Test series
July 08, 2008
An exhausted Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested while young left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was rewarded for his consistent performance with a berth in India's 16-member squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka, starting July 23.
Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma, who have been an integral part of India's one-day team, were also named in the side which had no place for opener Wasim Jaffer, an out-of-form Yuvraj Singh and struggling pacer Irfan Pathan.
The 21-year-old Ojha, who came into the limelight for his fine performance in the recent Indian Premier League, was preferred over fellow spinner Piyush Chawla and was the only new face in the squad announced by BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Dhoni's absence paved the way for Parthiv Patel's recall into the Test squad after a long gap.
Parthiv comes back to the team on the back of his fine batting performance in the domestic circuit. Dinesh Kaarthick is the other wicket-keeper in the team.
Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, both of whom had been out of action in the one-dayers, were named in the squad which will have a new vice-captain in Virender Sehwag.
While Tendulkar had been recuperating from a groin injury that forced him out to sit out of the third and final Test against South Africa in April, Harbhajan was serving a five-match ODI ban for slapping teammate S Sreesanth during the Indian Premier League.
Sreesanth, who is nursing a side strain, has also been left out of the squad.
India Team: Anil Kumble (c), Virender Sehwag (v-c), Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Kaarthick, Pragyan Ojha and Parthiv Patel.
|
|
Back to top 
|
India Sri Lanka Past Series
India Sri Lanka One Day International Cricket Series 2006
India, South Africa and Sri Lanka - Tri Series 2006 in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka in India One Day Series 2005
Sri Lanka in India Test Series 2005
Indian Oil Cup Tri Series 2005 in Sri Lanka
World Record involving Sri Lanka
|
|
|
Subscribe to Cricket News RSS/XML Feed
