Yuvi, Gambhir ruled out as Lanka bat against India in second Test

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Colombo, July 26: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat in the second cricket Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Monday.

India, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, suffered twin blows when opener Gautam Gambhir and middle-order batsman Yuvraj were ruled out of the key match.

Gambhir has a knee injury, while Yuvraj developed high fever overnight.

The duo will be replaced by left-hand batsman Suresh Raina, making his Test debut after playing 98 one-day internationals, and opener Murali Vijay.

Sri Lanka changed the entire frontline bowling attack that won them the first Test in Galle on 10 wickets.

With Muttiah Muralitharan now retired and fast bowler Lasith Malinga injured, Sri Lanka replaced them with spinner Ajantha Fernando and Dilhara Fernando.

Also out were left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and seamer Chanaka Welegedara. Their places went to debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv and fast bowler Dammika Prasad.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Rod Tucker (AUS)

TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)