India opening batsman Murali Vijay is doubtful for the first Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to start from 12 August.
Vijay, who is in the Indian squad for the tour, is suffering from an hamstring injury and has to pass the fitness test ahead of the first game against Sri Lanka.
The Indian team management has not confirmed yet whether Vijay will be part of the three-day warm up game which starts from 6 August in Colombo.
Vijay is undoubtedly an important player for India in this format of the game. He has managed to score runs with his flamboyant style of batting and the numbers speak well of him. He has scored 2,338 runs in 32 Test matches at an average of 41.75 . In the last 16 Test matches over a period of two years, he has averaged over 44.
If Vijay remains unfit for the warm up game, then it is likely that Karnataka batsman KL Rahul will replace him at the top of the order alongside Shikhar Dhawan. According to Indian Express, Vijay might not be fit for the warm up game.
Meanwhile, India Test skipper Virat Kohli has said that Vijay is an important player for the team and it will be a blow for the entire side if Vijay misses out on the first Test.
" In Test matches he has been a very solid opener for us, especially after the pair of Sehwag and Gambhir that we had, he is the one who has given us lot of stability at the top of the order. Everyone has a few hiccups in his career, all of us are involved in that bracket and all of us have gone through it. The best thing about him is that he is mentally very strong. Has a lot of patience, a very solid character and is very sure of himself and of his game. He has always been a very very solid opener for India," Kohli said in an interview to BCCI.tv before leaving for the Sri Lanka tour.
