“It looks pretty dry and we will get the runs on the board and put pressure on them”, Mathews, who is playing his 50th test, said at the toss. At Fatullah, he persisted with the five-bowler theory, and also brought back a Test stalwart – Harbhajan Singh – back to the side. According to a report in The Indian express, Vijay hadn’t recovered satisfactorily from his right hamstring strain to take the field, and it was a risk to play him considering the rainy weather and the possibility of there being a wet outfield.
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At present, among the batsmen, only Ajinkya Rahane is untouchable and he fits in easily at number five. It could be a good position for him because he has that ability to counter-attack and yet at the same time he will have to be tight.
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Vijay, 31, sustained the injury in Zimbabwe during India’s recent limited-over series there and did not bat in either innings of India’s only warm-up match ahead of the Galle Test that begins tomorrow. So we’re playing three spinners here.
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India have played four series on the island since, losing in 2001 and 2008, while drawing in 1997 and 2010. “But the mind set has to change”, said Mathews. They bowled really slowly. He wrote, “The Sri Lankans, too, have a young side and I think the hosts are slightly better prepared and placed for a few reasons”. One will have to work harder to get wickets.
“We decided that if a loose ball comes, we would go after it. We tried to recreate a ODI match feeling”. We have won Test matches against Pakistan and in England.
“India is quite inexperienced when it comes to batting but they are very skillful and good players”.
The left-hander, who debuted as a keeper-batsman, said he did not like being relieved of the keeping duties but it was possibly the best thing to have happened to his test career.
Angelo Mathews will Captain the side, while Lahiru Thirimanna will be Vice Captain.
“You learn day in, day out with the help of guys like Sanga, Mahela and I learnt quite a lot when it comes to batting”.
“It will be good to get him out early, but it’s not going to be easy”, added Kohli.
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A short ball from Aaron saw Silva trying to hook it but failed to make contact with the bat.
