Desperate to restore their battered reputation after the recent debacle in Australia, title holders India would be hoping for a positive start to their campaign in the Asia Cup cricket tournament when they take on Sri Lanka in Mirpur on Tuesday.
A wounded India would bank on its young blood to make amends for their humiliating loss in the Test cricket series against Sri Lanka as it takes on the hosts in the first of their five one-dayers in Dambulla on Monday.
Facing the risk of an early exit, India will not only have to produce a miracle against Sri Lanka in their last Super Eights match at St Lucia but also hope for a favour from Australia if they aspire to enter the semi-finals of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup.
A semi-final spot virtually out of their grasp after back-to-back defeats, India brace up for another tough battle when they take on a European champions England in their next pool B match of the hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Saturday.
Vihari, clearly hampered having pulled up clutching his hamstring after running for a single before tea, scored at a rate that made Pujara look like a limited overs slogger.
One of the national selectors hinted on Monday that the ace batsman has not recovered sufficiently from his elbow injury.
A win against New Zealand will give India their best standing in Champions Trophy since 1982 Amstelveen.
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