Dhoni unhappy with practice wickets

The Indian team had a less than ideal training session in Dambulla ahead of their tri-series match against Sri Lanka: opening batsman Dinesh Karthik was hit painfully on the hand and MS Dhoni was displeased with what he felt were substandard practice pitches.

The pitches reportedly hadn't been mown and were damp, resulting in balls rearing up from a good length, and bowlers' run-ups weren't firm as well.

"Dhoni was unhappy with the practice pitches," India's team manager Ranjib Biswal told the Hindu. "He felt the bounce was uneven. We have not lodged a protest but have asked the authorities for better practice wickets. The captain wants pitches with more consistent bounce at the nets."

Biswal said Karthik, who was hit by one of the local net bowlers, did not have an injury concern and would be fit to play on Monday.

Sri Lanka Cricket's national curator Anuruddha Polonowita, however, said there was nothing wrong with the facilities. "I don't understand what kind of wickets they [India] want," he said. "The other day, on a beauty of a wicket, they were bowled out for 88. Now, they don't want to play on the practice wickets."

India lost their opening game of the tournament by 200 runs to New Zealand and are scheduled to take on the hosts on Monday.