By BV Swagath
Gautam Gambhir is all set to miss the India Vs Pakistan, Warm-up match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday because of a hand injury. Gambhir was hit on the hand by a nasty delivery from Lasith Malinga that kicked out of good length to force him to retire hurt early in the Warm Up match against Sri Lanka on the 15th.
Gambhir though is likely to get back to full fitness by the opening match of India in the ICC World T20 2012 which will be against Afghanistan on Wednesday.
The absence of Gambhir in the line-up could lead to a new opening combination of Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli. Today’s India-Pakistan match will be the only warm-up match beamed live on Television. If all goes well the arch rivals could go onto play in two more matches in the tournament – one during the Super 8s and second perhaps in the Semi Finals.
The warm-up match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM Sri Lanka local time which is the same in IST as well.