Murali Vijay to miss Galle Test due to hamstring injury

Colombo: 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. The right-hander has been one of India’s most consistent scorers in recent times, and will be sorely missed. KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan will now open the batting for the visitors.

“Murali Vijay is still under recovery and we don’t want to take a chance on him for the first Test. Especially with conditions like this (rain on and off). Ground might be slippery,” Ravi Shastri said two days ahead of the first Test.

“It’s a big blow,” Shastri said of the injury to Vijay, who averages 41.75 after 32 Tests and is one of India’s most consistent batsmen in recent times.