Vijay, Saha ruled out of 3rd Test; Naman, Nair to replace

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

Naman Ojha and Karun Nair have been named as their replacements for the third and final Test starting August 28 here.

“The BCCI medical team confirms that Wriddhiman Saha and Murali Vijay have been ruled out of the remaining part of India’s tour of Sri Lanka due to injury,” BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said in a release.

“Saha has sustained a strain in his lower right hamstring and would require rehabilitation and strength training to recover completely. Vijay has sustained mild re-occurrence on his <g data-gr-id="40">pre existing</g> injury in his right hamstring and would need further strength training to recover completely,” the release said.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named wicketkeeper Naman Ojha and Karun Nair as their replacements to join the team,” it added.

Vijay had also missed the first Test at Galle as he could not recover from the hamstring injury he sustained in Zimbabwe during India’s recent limited over series there. He returned to the playing eleven in the ongoing second Test and scored 0 and 82 in the two innings respectively.

Saha sustained the injury on Sunday while batting in India’s second innings. He first retired hurt on his personal score of five but then came back to <g data-gr-id="35">bat</g> during the final session to be unbeaten on 13 as India declared their second innings on 325 or eight.

Later Saha did not take <g data-gr-id="36">field</g> in the final innings of the match as young Lokesh Rahul donned the wicketkeeping gloves for India.

India <g data-gr-id="34">are</g> trailing the three-match Test series 0-1 but hoping to square it 1-1 with a win tomorrow on the final day of the second Test.

“Obviously, it’s a dream come true and I am very happy about this call up,” 23-year-old Nair told PTI from Wayanad, Kerala, where he is with the India ‘A’ team for the ongoing ‘unofficial’ Test series against South Africa ‘A’ side.

“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. It gave me a lot of confidence just like this century against South Africa A. When you score runs at this level you gain a lot of <g data-gr-id="39">self confidence</g>,” said the talented Karnataka batsman who hit a patient hundred to ensure a hard-earned draw for India A against South Africa A in the first unofficial cricket ‘Test’ on Friday.