Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and bowler Ashish Nehra called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (22 Mar.) and thanked him for facilitating their prompt treatment by a well-known ayurvedic physician in Sri Lanka.

They were leaving for India after recovering from injuries sustained while playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League series. The injuries almost jeopardised their prospects in the ongoing series, the Hindu reported.

An official in the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat said besides thanking the President the players also thanked Sri Lankan cricketer Dilshan Tillakaratne, who is now playing in the IPL, for recommending the treatment and making arrangements for it through the President.

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar has also been successfully treated for a sports injury at the request of the President, the report added.