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Tharanga to replace Sangakkara in 3rd Test

India will need to break an 11-year unbeaten run to win the third Test

Sri Lanka have named left-hander Upul Tharanga to replace retired Kumar Sangakkara in the deciding third Test against India starting today (Friday), while India will be out to snap the hosts' unbeaten run at Sinhalese Sports Club.

Sangakkara's absence will leave a major hole in the Sri Lanka Test team, after the batting legend bid farewell to international cricket after playing the first two games of a series that is now level at 1-1 after India claimed victory in the second Test.

Captain Angelo Mathews said on Thursday the management were still discussing other changes in the team, including whether to hand hard-hitter Kusal Perera a Test debut in place of Jehan Mubarak, while off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal remained in doubt for the game at the Sinhalese Sports Club having injured the thumb of his bowling hand during the second Test.

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In his absence, Dilruwan Perera would take the second spinner's slot.

Meanwhile for India, 32-year-old wicketkeeper Naman Ojha will make his Test debut after Wriddhiman Saha returned home with a hamstring injury.

India's team director Ravi Shastri said his team would go all out for a series win after their comeback victory in the second Test.

India have only won one series in Sri Lanka, in 1993, have never won two Tests in the same series in the island nation, and have never come from behind to win a Test series away from home.

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However, to make history Virat Kohli's men will have to contend with Sri Lanka's excellent record at the SSC.

Sri Lanka have not lost a Test at the venue for 11 years and have lost only six times in the ground's 38-Test history.

Last time they played at the SSC, in August last year against Pakistan, Rangana Herath - who was the hero of Sri Lanka's victory in the first Test against India - took 14 wickets including nine in an innings.

The third Test will begin at 2.30pm AEST.


SQUADS

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera.

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Karun Nair, Naman Ojha, Stuart Binny, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Aaron.