Karun Nair, Naman Ojha called up for third Test

In a big blow to India, opening batsman Murali Vijay and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha were today ruled out for the remainder of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to injuries.

Vijay had missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury, regained fitness in time for the second game in Colombo but has now been ruled out.

While Ojha has been on tour with the Test team before, travelling to England last summer and to Australia in the winter as an additional player for the first Test, which Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed through injury, this is Nair’s maiden foray into the senior side.

The 30-year-old came back at the fall of the seventh wicket, but did not don the wicket-keeping gloves later on, with Lokesh Rahul taking up the duty.

Both Vijay and Saha are playing in the 2nd Test, and both showed considerable discomfort with hamstring strains on Day 4.

“Vijay has sustained mild reoccurrence on his pre-existing injury in his right hamstring and would need further strength training to recover completely”, added the release.

“I believe one of the most important knocks has been the triple century that I scored in the Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu, last season”.

“This is a dream come true for me”, said Nair, who is in Wayanad as part of India “A” squad. “Karun Nair will be joining the team for the third Test”.

Despite the pair being injured, India are in a strong position to claim a series-levelling victory in the second test ahead of the third game which begins also in Colombo on Friday.

Nair’s match-saving hundred against South Africa “A” perhaps won him the selectors’ nod. Going in as a replacement for Vijay means, Nair may have to open the innings which he said he was prepared for.