Team India leaves for Colombo tomorrow

The Indian cricket team, sans newly-married skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will leave for Sri Lanka from here tomorrow to play three Tests and a tri-nation ODI series starting July 18.

Pacer duo of S Sreesanth and Abhimanyu Mithun, who replaces the injured Zaheer Khan, arrived in the city, while Sachin Tendulkar will be reaching in the evening.

"Tendulkar missed his morning flight and is expected to arrive hear in 7:15 in the evening," according to the airport authorities here.

Other Indian players will be arriving here in batches and cricketers from northern region, including vice-captain Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, are expected to arrive at 10:30pm before leaving by the Sri Lankan Airlines tomorrow.

Dhoni, who recently got married to childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat, will be reaching Sri Lanka directly.

Incidentally, a function to honour Chennai Super Kings title triumph in IPL III and to extend honorary membership to Dhoni for his achievements as captain of India and CSK is slated to be organised here tomorrow night by Madras Cricket Club inside the Chepauk stadium.