Kohli & Co to play three Tests in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Virat Kohli’s India will play three Test matches in Sri Lanka next month, the cricket board said on Thursday, marking the final series for the home team’s batting great Kumar Sangakkara.
The Indian team will arrive in Colombo on August 3 and start the tour with a three-day practice match against the Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman’s XI at the Premadasa stadium from August 6.
The back-to-back Tests will be played in Galle (August 12-16) and two venues in Colombo, the P.Sara Oval (August 20 to 24) and the Sinhalese Sports Club (August 28 to September 1).
The first and second Tests, which will be 37-year-old Sangakkara’s last two matches before he retires, are sandwiched between Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections on August 17.
Sangakkara, whose 12,305 runs with 38 centuries from 132 Tests are the highest by a current batsman, said last month he will play two Tests each against Pakistan and India in the home season before ending his 15-year career.
Pakistan won their series 2-1 with a seven-wicket win in Pallekele on Tuesday.
India’s schedule:
August 6-8: Three-day match at Premadasa stadium, Colombo
August 12-16: First Test, Galle
August 20-24: Second Test, P. Sara Oval, Colombo
August 28-September 1: Third Test, Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.