Colombo, August 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground here on Sunday, with off-spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain making his international Test debut.
India lead the two-match series 1-0 after registering a 165-run victory in the opening Test in Galle. Captain Shubman Gill won the toss for the second successive match and confirmed that Jain has replaced left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who is unavailable due to an infection.
Jain, an Indore-based cricketer, received his Test debut cap from senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the team huddle.
Gill said the SSC pitch appeared harder and better for batting than the surface in Galle, although he expected it to slow down and offer turn as the match progressed.
Reflecting on India’s performance in the first Test, Gill rated the team’s effort “probably a nine” out of 10 but acknowledged there was still room for improvement.
“It is very, very difficult to be able to have a near-perfect game because you’re playing for five days,” Gill said, stressing the difficulty of maintaining dominant and consistent cricket throughout a Test.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara would make their Test debuts. Sooriyabandara had earlier featured as a concussion substitute during the Galle Test after Dinesh Chandimal suffered neck and shoulder injuries while fielding.
De Silva said the SSC surface looked better for batting than the Galle wicket but felt the cloud cover could assist Sri Lanka’s bowlers early in the innings.
India’s playing XI comprises Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka’s XI features Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando.
FOLLOW NOW
