Indian cricket team leaves for Sri Lanka

CHENNAI: The Indian cricket team on Wednesday left for Sri Lanka to play five one-dayers and a Twenty20 against the island nation from Saturday.

The first ODI of the series, which marks the start of the season following a seven-week break, will be played in Hambantota.

"Most of the players have come back after a long break and the body looks very different and their fielding and other activities look very different," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters before heading to Sri Lanka.

"We will make the most of the rest that we have got. It's the start of the season and we want to start it on a good note."

After this, India will host New Zealand, play the World Twenty20 Championships and then host England and Pakistan at the end of the year.