Malinda Pushpakumara

Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's third Test against India owing to back pain.

Senior batsman Upul Tharanga will lead a 15-man Sri Lanka squad in the five-match ODI series against India that begins in Dambulla on Sunday.

Pacers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Gamage have been added to the Sri Lankan squad ahead of the third Test against India starting in Pallekele on Saturday.

Sri Lanka recalled batsman Lahiru Thirimanne in its squad for the second Test against India as a replacement for injured Gunaratne. It's more than a year that Thirimanne is out of the Sri Lanka's Test team as he has not featured in the traditional format since playing against England in June 2016.

"We chased 380-odd in our last Test. But India and Zimbabwe are different teams, and we are playing international cricket so that confidence should help the boys. They are the no.1 team at the moment and are playing very good cricket. So this is an interesting and challenging tour for us. We need to do something special," said Rangana Herath on the eve of the first Test.

TOI Sports highlights the major passages of second day's play of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele.

Back in the side, fit-again Sri Lank captain Dinesh Chandimal hopes to revive his team's fledgling fortunes in the second Test with a match-winning effort, similar to the one he produced against India two years ago.

Overwhelmed to be compared with legendary Kapil Dev, all-rounder Hardik Pandya said if he could become even 10 per cent of what the former World Cup winning captain was, he would be happy.

Sri Lanka's bowling coach Chaminda Vaas on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the performance of spinners Malinda Pushpakumara and Lakshan Sadakan, who shared five wickets between them to restrict India to 329 for 6 at stumps on day one of the third Test.

After India piled on their second highest score on Sri Lankan soil, the hosts were restricted to 50/2 at stumps on Day 2 courtesy R Ashwin's dismissal of their openers.

Is it fair to blame a batsman, who's known to bat in cavalier fashion, when he loses his wicket to a bad stroke, or do you still back him because that's his 'natural style,' which has put your team on top in the first place?

A superb century from captain Virat Kohli guided India to six-wicket win in the fifth and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo as they completed a 5-0 clean sweep on Sunday. Chasing a below-par 239, Kohli hit his 30th ODI ton and remained unbeaten on 110 to help his side chase down the target in 46.3 overs.

In cricket, as in life, it's all about grabbing the opportunities as and when they present themselves. The recent Test series between India and Sri Lanka was a study in contrast, and now the two sides head into a five-match ODI series starting here on Sunday.

After 188-run opening stand, India lose six wickets for 141 runs

KL Rahul's imminent return leaves skipper Virat Kohli with an unenviable task of dropping opener Abhinav Mukund as India aim to clinch the three-match series against Sri Lanka with another resounding victory in the second Test starting on Thursday.

India will look to extend their domination in Tests when they take on a jaded Sri Lanka in the first game of a three-match series starting Wednesday, back to a place where they were humiliated before soaring to world No 1.

Statistical highlights on day one of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday.

He has hit a purple patch since his comeback into the Indian team for the Champions Trophy and opener Shikhar Dhawan attributes it to a distinct change in mindset, when put under the pump.

India claimed their first ever 3-0 series win overseas, beating Sri Lanka in the third and the final Test Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Monday by an innings and 171 runs.

Statistical highlights after the second day of the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Ravindra Jadeja's 70 not out is his highest Test score away from home - his second highest overall next only to the 90 vs England at Mohali in November 2016.

The interest this series has generated after getting off to a one-sided start, which was expected, can be gauged by the short length (eight minutes) of Virat Kohli's press conference ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground.

Cricket may need daynight Tests, or even floodlights to start and stop play at smoggy venues like the Ferozeshah Kotla, but does it need nightwatchmen? Specifically, Sri Lankan nightwatchmen?

Lower order contributions, Ashwin's twin strikes leave hosts gasping for breath

TOI Sports highlights the major passages of Day 1 play of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Saturday.

Virat Kohli and his men stand on the cusp of history, aiming to become the first Indian team to complete a whitewash in an overseas three-Test series when they meet a below-par Sri Lanka in the third and final match, starting on Saturday.

Shikhar Dhawan slapped his thigh in signature style, and after congratulating each other, India skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane grabbed a stump each and walked away. There were no big celebrations.

All-rounder's blazing ton, Kuldeep's guile help visitors enforce follow on; Sri Lanka 19/1 in second innings

India vs Sri Lanka 2017: After a pasting at the hands of Hardik Pandya in the first session, in which India scored 158 runs riding on the allrounder’s blistering 108 off 96 deliveries, India bowlers ran rough shots against the hosts to bowl them out for 135 in the first innings.

India are thirsting to conquer the sole ‘fort’ that they were driven out from in 2015, and the challenge facing Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain and veteran spinner Rangana Herath is massive.