Murali Vijay practises with tennis balls ahead of Kotla Test

New Delhi, Dec 1 (CRICKETNMORE) - On the eve of the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka, prolific India opener Murali Vijay was seen practising with tennis balls during the team's practice session at the Ferozeshah Kotla here

But Vijay didn't look too perturbed and said he and his fellow openers are good friends on and off the field, and that the camaraderie helps them do well out in the middle despite the opening combination yet to be sorted out.

"It doesn't matter (settled opening pair). We three are good friends off the field and it makes it easier to do well. We three are in good form and it will help us in the future series," he said.

In the first Test at the Eden Gardens, India opened with Rahul and Dhawan before the Delhi southpaw withdrew from the second game in Nagpur where Vijay scored a magnificent century.

Dhawan also looked in fine touch in Kolkata, and so was Rahul before he failed to fire in the second Test, which India won by an innings and 239 runs.

Commenting on the wicket at the Kotla, Vijay said: "It is a nice wicket to play. Hopefully, the wicket plays good and we get a good experience before the South Africa tour.