Gautam Gambhir

India’s chances of leveling the series suffered a serious blow as its opening batsman 28 year old Delhi-ite Gautam Gambhir was ruled out for the Third Test starting tomorrow at the P S Sara Oval, Colombo. Gambhir had missed the Second Test owing to a knee injury.

Other than the Delhi lad, Harbhajan Singh also looks as a doubtful starter after giving a skip to the team training on Monday. Gambhir and Tendulkar’s omission from the squad for the upcoming Tri Nation ODI series starting August 10th had raised some doubts regarding their availability for the Third Test; Tendulkar had missed the final day’s play of the Second Test owing to a groin strain. But he dismissed any such allegations as he was active participating in the training drill on Monday. The final Test at Colombo will be a special one for the little genius as he is all set to become the most capped Test player overtaking Steve Waugh’s record of 168 Test caps.

In the Sri Lankan camp Lasith Malinga is all set to make his return after having to watch the action from the sidelines in the Second Test owing to a stiff knee and a bout of fever. Malinga has been quite active with the team in the training camps and will quite easily get the selector’s nod after his heroics in the first test at Galle. Chanaka Welegadara has been called for special practice sessions to sort out his rhythm and might get the call after having troubled Sehwag in the first test. Welegadera dismissed Sehwag twice in the Galle test but was dropped from the second, with selectors and skipper citing lack of consistency and rhythm.

Tags: Colombo, Cricket, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, India, P S Sara Oval, Sri Lanka, Test Cricket