Murali Vijay ruled out of first Test in Galle against Sri Lanka due to injury

India has suffered a huge blow ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka as opener Murali Vijay has been ruled out of the match with a mild hamstring strain. Team Director Ravi Shastri made the announcement in Colombo today, the BCCI reported. [caption id=“attachment_2385746” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Murali Vijay (Batting). Getty[/caption] Vijay picked up the injury during India’s tour of Zimbabwe and didn’t bat in the warm-up game against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in Colombo. There were hopes that he would recover in time but the team management didn’t want to risk aggravating the injury further. Vijay has been India’s most consistent batsman since the start of 2014, during which time he has averaged 47.04 with three centuries and six half-centuries from 23 innings. Overall, in 32 Tests, Vijay has scored 2338 runs at an average of 41.75. In absence of Vijay, KL Rahul will likley open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan. Vijay picked up the niggle in Zimbabwe during India’s recent three-match One-Day International series and T20I series. He did not come out to bat in both innings of India’s only warm-up match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in Colombo as a precautionary measure. India drew the three-day preparatory match. “To ensure that the niggle is not further aggravated, the Indian team management has decided to give him rest for the first Test starting on August 12 in Galle,” Shastri said on Monday. Rahul had missed the drawn one-off Test against Bangladesh in June due to dengue. He scored a century in his second Test in Sydney against Australia last year. Vijay has been India’s most consistent batsman over the last year and a half, scoring centuries in England, Australia and Bangladesh. In 32 Tests Vijay has scored 2338 runs with an average of 41.75 and six centuries. Shastri said Vijay’s absence is a big blow to the team. “He’s the in form player, he’s had a fabulous run in Test cricket. He will be missed because he’s an experienced player now,” Shastri said. Vijay underwent fitness drills separately on Monday but it proved he was not fit enough for the first Test. With IANS inputs