India batsman Suryakumar Yadav on Wednesday shrugged off complaints that only a weakened side had been sent to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga slammed the island's sports leaders for agreeing to the tour by a "B Team" Indian side without top stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team led by opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan will play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches starting July 13.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yadav insisted that Ranatunga's comments had not affected the squad as it prepares.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Everyone is completely focused, the way the practice sessions are going," Yadav told a virtual news conference.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We are really excited and ready for that challenge. We are just here to have some fun, enjoy this series and take a lot of positives from here."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ranatunga, 57, said the tour undermined the country's "dignity" as he attacked Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli is leading the full-strength India side preparing for five Tests in England starting next month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yadav is among a host of players in Sri Lanka looking to impress selectors before the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October-November.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a great opportunity for everyone having a tour amid this situation," said Yadav, who plays for five-time champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a great challenge and responsibility for each and everyone to come out here and express themselves," he added. "I am excited and looking forward to it."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2021\/07\/india-dismiss-b-team-claims-on-sri-lanka-tour.jpg", "alt_img": "Cricket Image for India Dismiss 'B-Team' Claims On Sri Lanka Tour", "alt_title": "Indian Cricket Team", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "India Dismiss 'B-Team' Claims On Sri Lanka Tour On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Suryakumar Yadav shrugged off complaints that only a weakened side had been sent to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs tour.", "seo_keywords": "India tour of Sri Lanka", "tag": "", "tagging": "India tour of Sri Lanka,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "india-dismiss-b-team-claims-on-sri-lanka-tour", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "1946", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2021-07-07 12:36:42", "updated": "2021-07-07 12:36:42", "img_from": "Image Source: Twitter", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "India, Suryakumar Yadav, Sri Lanka, India B Team", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "12", "jio_date": "2021-07-07 12:36:42", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2021-07-07 12:36:42", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/india-dismiss-b-team-claims-on-sri-lanka-tour-79305" }