by Rex Clementine

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, receives a welcome drink upon the Indian cricket team’s arrival at the team hotel in Colombo on Wednesday. India will play five ODIs and a T-20 International during their stay in Sri Lanka.

The Indians arrived in Colombo on Wednesday afternoon and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, alongside Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene addressed the media at the Taj Samudra Hotel with both captains insisting that the series will help them in certain ways in the lead up to the World T-20.

"Following the Pakistan series, we want to continue with the good things," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said. "We have a fair idea of the World T-20 that’s coming up and the personnel we want to have in that squad and stuff like that," Jayawardene added.

That answer of Jayawardene gave an indication as to what Chamara Kapugedara is doing in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad. It came as a surprise for many to see Kapugedara’s name in the ODI squad, which was announced on Monday, as the batsman had managed two ducks in a row in his last two games for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in Harare, prior to national call up. Sri Lanka ‘A’ are in Zimbabwe playing a tri-nation series involving South Africa ‘A’ and Zimbabwe ‘A’.

"What’s important is that we have to win this series, rather than thinking too far ahead," Dhoni said, when asked about the World T-20, but added, "the good thing, however, will be that most of the guys who are part of this squad will be part of the T-20 squad. There are certain areas we want to improve on, and it’s a good time for us to test how much we have improved and how much more we can improve."

Dhoni also spoke on the excellent camaraderie the players of both teams have developed over the years. "We know Sri Lanka is a very good side. In the last five years or so, both sides have played in the best of spirits and there has hardly been a fight on the field," he said.

The series will not have the Umpire Decision Review System, due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s continuous opposition to the use of the technology.

The teams will leave to Hambantota this morning and the first game will take place on Saturday, followed by the second ODI on July 24, also at Hambantota.

The teams will return to Colombo for the remaining two ODIs, while the last ODI will take place at the Pallekele International Stadium.

The hill capital venue will also host the only T-20 International between the two countries.