Bangalore, July 13: India’s injury woes continued to mount on Monday when fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was ruled out of the three-test series against Sri Lanka with a knee injury, joining fellow paceman Zaheer Khan on the sidelines.
Sreesanth suffered a ligament tear in his left knee at practice and was declared unfit to take part in the series which begins on July 18 at Galle.
He will be replaced by fast bowler Munaf Patel, who last made an international appearance in November 2009.
India is also concerned about the fitness of spinner Harbhajan Singh, who is fighting a bacterial infection and also missed practice.
“The first net session that he was bowling Sreesanth felt that he was not really fit. He went for a scan and he has been asked to rest for a period of one month,” captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters.
“Harbhajan is also a doubtful starter he has got bacterial infection. He won’t play in the three-day warm up game but he is expected to get fit in the next couple of days.”
India, who open their tour with a warm-up game against a Sri Lanka Board President’s XI on Tuesday, flew down rookie bowlers Umesh Yadav and Jaidev Unadkat to help out at net practice.
Dhoni was concerned with the spate of injuries that have hit their fast bowlers in recent times after Zaheer also pulled out with a shoulder injury.
“It’s a bit of concern with the World Cup also coming. We have important series coming ahead of us and we want a set of bowlers. Somehow we are missing more bowlers because of injuries,” said Dhoni.
“With plenty of cricket and the amount of effort you have to put in… injuries will be part of it. It’s just that we are missing too many bowlers at the same time.”
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said India would provide tough opposition despite the absence of Zaheer and Sreesanth.
“It’s hard to replace guys like Zack and Sree in experience and quality but if someone gets an opportunity and he is hungry and raring to go that may make up for lack of experience,” said Sangakkara.
“We’ll have to do a little bit of rethinking and research on them and make sure that we are prepared for whatever comes from them.”
-Agencies