India might be in the ascendancy in the second Test match in Colombo against Sri Lanka, but they have been dealt a big blow with their premier opener – Murali Vijay – and number one choice wicketkeeper – Wriddhiman Saha – ruled out of the rest of the series with hamstring injuries.
Vijay missed the first Test match with an injury to his right hamstring, and India were forced into selecting him for this second Test a little following the hand injury to Shikhar Dhawan, which ruled him out of the rest of the series as well.
The opener struck a nice half-century in the second innings, which helped India set a stiff target for Sri Lanka.
"Vijay has sustained mild reoccurrence on his pre-existing injury in his right hamstring and would need further strength training to recover completely," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement on BCCI's official website.
Saha retired hurt in the second innings after sustaining a hamstring injury as well, and did not keep wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings on Day 4.
"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," the statement added.
"Saha has sustained a strain in his lower right hamstring and would require rehabilitation and strength training to recover completely."
Vijay will be replaced in the Test squad by Karun Nair, who could now make his Test debut in the third Test match if he gets the nod ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara, while Naman Ojha, another player in line for a debut, will take the place of Saha.
The injury to Saha also means, KL Rahul will have to keep wickets for the whole of Day 5 at the P Sara Oval on Monday.
