Team India batsmen Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and K L Rahul will give each other tough challenge ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which will start from 12 August in Galle. All the three batsmen have been in good form off late and there are high chances of the three playing XI in the first Test.
But Vijay has said that there is no extra pressure on the Indian batsmen and they just want to give their best in the series.
Vijay has been suffering from a hamstring injury and it will be interesting to see whether he features in the three-day warm-up game in Colombo.
Previously captain Virat Kohli had mentioned before leaving for Sri Lanka that Vijay is an important player at the top of the lineup. Vijay, who has been in good form in this format of the game, is eager to do well in this series and cement his place.
"It's actually not demanding. It is actually our role and if any one of us clicks, it's going to be good for the team and we are going to be in a much comfortable position on most times. So it is a good challenge. It is a good responsibility to have on your shoulder to go in and bat and these are good things. If you are looking to dominate in a Test match, you have to perform as a team. You should have the plans and work according to them," Vijay told reporters on Tuesday.
Everyone is aware of the competition at the top of the order but Vijay feels that it is healthy and it will be more challenging for the players in this side who would want to end the 22-year drought as India have not won a Test series in the Lankan island in many years.
"It [the competition in the top-order] is going to add more challenge for everybody to pull up their socks and do their bit for the team. Be as consistent as possible and it's a good challenge and good thing to have in a team. A lot of youngsters like Angelo Mathews are doing well. There is Lahiru Thiramanne. So there is a lot of talent in the team and it is going to be a tough series for us. We are also a young bunch of players and it is going to be a challenging series," Vijay added.
India will be up against the Sri Lankan side, which is going through a transitional phase and for the first time, they will be up against their neighbours without the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Sangakkara will be playing the first two Test match and then retire from the format of the game as well and head to Surrey as he has been contracted to play county cricket for the English side.
Vijay felt that India will have the edge over the Lankan side who recently suffered a series defeat in all three format of the game against Pakistan at home.
"With Mahela retired and Sangakkkara about to [retire], there is a big hole in their batting line-up when these two greats retire. Overall I have seen Sri Lanka's series with Pakistan and watched quite a bit of them. They are a talented side. We are looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can pull it off," Vijay said.
