The first match of the Test series between India and Sri Lanka begins on Saturday (Aug. 15) in Galle, Sri Lanka.
The outcome of this series, in which spin is expected to dominate, is crucial for India to move up in the World Test Championship standings.
Under head coach Gautam Gambhir’s guidance, the Indian team is in superb form in white-ball cricket, having won the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup, and T20 World Cup.
But in Test cricket, the situation is the opposite. Defeats at home in series against New Zealand and South Africa have hurt the team’s chances in the World Test Championship.
So if India also fails to shine in this series, there is no doubt that strong criticism will arise regarding Gambhir’s performance in red-ball matches.
As far as this series is concerned, Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis are key figures in Sri Lanka’s spin attack. Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Vishwa Fernando support the pace attack.
Indian batters, who are already struggling against spin, will determine the outcome of the series by how they handle this challenge.
In India’s top order, K.L. Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Devdutt Padikkal are expected to feature, while in the middle order, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, or Sarfaraz Khan could also come in.
India are also likely to field Manav Suthar in this match alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who remain their main weapons in spin bowling. In pace bowling, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna could be selected.
To meet their challenge, Sri Lankan batters including Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dinesh Chandimal are set to take the field.
Probable XI:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar.
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando.
10:00 AM
Galle Stadium, Sri Lanka.
Sony Sports, Sony Liv
India ‘600’
On the day India celebrates its 80th Independence Day (Aug. 15), the Indian team takes the field for its 600th Test match.
India is the third team to reach this milestone. England and Australia are the first two teams. India played its first Test match against England in 1932. England won that match.
India so far...
599 Tests
186 wins
188 losses
224 draws
1 tie
123 wins at home
63 wins away
