Indian team director Ravi Shastri confirmed that opener Murali Vijay has not recovered in time to play the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

“Kumar’s greatness was his ability to score runs against any attack in all types of conditions”.

Also included were uncapped left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, and strike bowler Rangana Herath, who was dropped for the recent third test against Pakistan, Sri Lanka Cricket said on Friday. Ranatunga said that he should play all the matches in the series.

“It will be a competitive series but I guess India will have an upper-hand as they have a more or less steady team”. Maybe on Saturday after lunch we can bowl for two sessions and get more overs in.

The tourists will not be distracted by the hype over Sangakkara’s farewell series as they bid to end a barren phase in Sri Lanka since the 1-0 victory by Mohammad Azharuddin’s men in 1993.

“We are here to play good cricket”, Kohli said, downplaying India’s poor overseas record. Jehan Mubarak has had a great domestic season and I am happy that he has been recalled. I am happy playing T20 leagues as it is for a short time.

“This series is very important for Sri Lanka”.

Chasing a target of 411 runs, Sri Lanka Board President XI could manage only 200 runs for the loss of 6 wickets before the two captains decided to call it quits.

Rahane looked in sublime touch, middling the ball well much to the appreciation of his teammates while opening batsman Dhawan looked confident and made a conscious effort to leave certain deliveries.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has fired a shot in the direction of Kumar Sangakkara ahead of the three-Test series starting in Galle on August 12, saying he “will go hard” at the retiring Sri Lankan batsman.