India, Sri Lanka team arrive in Kolkata

Kolkata:

The Indian cricket team sans Yuvraj Singh, who has been ruled out of the series due to a finger injury, and the Sri Lankan side arrived here this evening for the fourth One-day International on Thursday.

The dashing left-hander has been advised rest and hence he will not play in the fourth and fifth ODIs against Sri Lanka to be played here and Delhi on December 24 and 27.

Sachin Tendulkar was also not with the team as he had flown to Kolkata on Tuesday morning for attending a program here.

Yuvraj, who hurt his finger during the Twenty20 match against Sri lanka in Mohali, skipped the first two ODIs before playing the third match on Monday at Cuttack.

The Punjab batsman, who guards the point position, was seen standing on the ropes in the Cuttack ODI yesterday.

According to team sources, both teams will practice on Wednesday afternoon at the Eden.

Hosting an one-dayer after almost three years, Eden Gardens will offer a typical batting wicket with dew likely to play a role in the crucial fourth ODI here on Thursday.

Heavy dew in the evening will certainly make it difficult for the side fielding second, even as the pitch will be typical of Eden.

Curator Probir Mukherjee though refused to predict a total, he insisted that it will be a batting strip and he does not rule out scores in excess of 300.

"The wicket will stay firm and good for batting. There should be runs in plenty. Bounce will be good and even," Mukherjee said.

Asked on the dew factor, Mukherjee said they would use super sopper and try their best to minimise the affect.

With a little chill in the air and some evening breeze there could be some lateral movement, Mukherjee said.

India and Sri Lanka played their last ODI in Eden Gardens on February 8, 2007. With rain coming into play early, the match was abandoned.