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INDIA will continue to experiment and blood young players in the remaining two one-dayers against Sri Lanka despite losing the previous match, team officials said in Rajkot yesterday.

India rested Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh for Sunday's fifth one-dayer in Ahmedabad after securing an unassailable 4-0 lead in the seven-match series.

India suffered a five-wicket defeat and the decision to play without three of their best players was described as "cocky" by former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

"It was akin to pushing an automobile onto the road without gas," Ranatunga wrote in his column for the Press Trust of India. "Besides, to us it appeared India were cocky."

Indian captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell insisted the rotation policy will continue.

"You don't always find yourself in such a situation when you can experiment against a very good opponent who will be coming at you all guns blazing," said Dravid.

Coach Chappell, keen to build a team for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, said young players will not learn sitting on the sidelines.

"The experience the youngsters have gained after Sunday's match is invaluable," Chappell said.

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