'Angelo is playing against India but he will only be batting. He is still not fit enough to bowl.'
To make matters worse, senior batsman Chamara Kapugedara also sustained a knee injury and hobbled out of the ground in considerable pain during the practice session.
Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha informed that Mathews will not be bowling and it will certainly affect the balance of the side.
The all-rounder is making a comeback from hamstring injury.
"Angelo is playing against India but he will only be batting. He is still not fit enough to bowl. As far as Kapu (Kapugedara) is concerned, it looked bad and we are still not sure whether we can avail his services,” Gurusinha said from the sidelines of the Sri Lankan training session on the eve of the match against India.
It is learnt that Sri Lanka have already got two replacements, who were travelling with the team.
"We brought 17 players. We have a left-hander Dhanushka Gunathilake and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera," he said.
Image: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews
Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
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