Kolkata: Faced with the uphill task of scoring over a near-perfect India, a young Sri Lanka side will look to sharpen their skills ahead of the opening Test by playing a two-day warm-up tie against the Board President’s XI at the Jadhavpur University 2nd campus ground from Saturday.
Despite coming on the back of a surprise 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan in the UAE, the Dinesh Chandimal-led side will have to pull off a major heist if they want to get positives from the three-Test engagement on Indian soil.
Not long ago, Sri Lanka were blanked 0-9 across all-formats at home by a dominant India side.
From the Pakistan series, the visitors will miss the services of highly rated top-order batsman Kusal Mendis, pacer Nuwan Pradeep and opener Kaushal Silva.
Pradeep is expected to be brought back for the limited-overs clashes.
All eyes will be on all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who is making a comeback to the Test team after being in and out of the side.
Mathews has been working hard in the nets. Even though the former skipper won’t be bowling, his contribution with the bat will be the key for the visitors.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath is the only other player to have featured in India before, in 2009.
Coming to the Board President’s XI, promising wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Samson — slated to lead the side in the absence of injured Naman Ojha — will look to impress after giving a good account of himself in the Indian Premier League earlier this year.
“We will have a team strategy. It’s a practice match for them but it’s not a practice match for us,” Samson said.
“Every individual in the team has really put their heart together to perform very well in the past many years and it’s a great opportunity for them. It’s only one match but it’s a great opportunity for each and everyone. We should take this as a great chance to perform and go out there and succeed.”
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has been withdrawn from India’s squad for the first two Tests to manage the all-rounder’s heavy workload, the BCCI said on Friday.
The 24-year-old seamer and hard-hitting batsman has been a regular member of the Indian side in all three formats of the game and has been playing non-stop since the Champions Trophy in England in June.
Pandya was named in India’s squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka and no replacement has been named.
“The all-India senior selection committee in consultation with the Indian team management has decided to rest all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“Considering Pandya’s heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern.
“Pandya will undergo a period of strength and conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.”
