In the upcoming tour of India to Sri Lanka, Murli Vijay, who is a regular opener for India in Test matches was included in the squad but suffered a wrist injury. Hence, Shikhar Dhawan replacing Murli Vijay was included in the team. In a recent interview, skipper Virat Kohli has given an advice to both Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund. He said. “Every player comes to the team wanting to perform. Injuries are an unfortunate part of a sport. Vijay was back from rehab and played a game and told selectors he was not match fit. That is the kind of culture being created. People are honest.” However, it is still not decided that who among both will open along KL Rahul.
Tracking the records, Kohli further said, “Abhinav (Mukund) is there, he has played a lot of domestic cricket. Shikhar got a hundred here last time and then he had to miss a couple of games.(Cheteshwar) Pujara opened in the last Test (in Dharamsala). So guys are looking these scenarios as opportunities rather than getting under pressure. I am sure they are going to be up for it.”
Taking a look at the opponents, Sri Lanka’s performance against Zimbabwe in the recent ODI series was not up to the mark. However, Rangana Herath in the test match against Zimbabwe took a ten wicket haul and is at the second spot in the recent ICC Test Rankings. Kohli also had made it clear that the team is not going to take Sri Lanka lightly.
“Remember we came here two years back after the tour of Australia, we were six or seven in the rankings. That particular series in Sri Lanka gave us belief. It taught us to come together as a team. Everyone in the team knows this is where it all started after losing the first Test in Galle. It was a dent for us. The way we came together in the last tour is iconic for us,” he said.
He also praised Herath and said, “He is such a good bowler. If you don’t find a solution to tackle him, then he will do what he did at Galle. You have to stay a step ahead of the opposition and find ways to counter it. If mistakes happen consistently and then you are not improving as a side.”