The first match of the 2-Test series between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Galle from Saturday (15 August). Team India is going to enter this match with 3 spinners. Manav Suthar is sure to be a part of the playing XI along with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Whereas Mohammad Siraj will take the responsibility of the new ball. There is most discussion about who will be his partner. There is a fight for this slot between Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar.
Indian captain Shubman Gill has made it clear on the eve of the match who will play between Prasidh and Brar. Gill hinted in the press conference that Galle could handle the famous new ball along with the experienced Siraj. However, young Brar has made a strong case on the basis of his ability to bowl effectively with the old ball. Aaqib Nabi is not in the race. For the second fast bowler, the choice has to be made between the six feet five inches tall Brar and the one inch shorter Prasidh. Prasidh has played seven Tests and has 25 wickets to his name.
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What did Gill say on Prasidh and Brar?
Captain Gill said on the eve of the first Test, 'Both are very skilled bowlers and they bowled very well in the practice match. We have seen how effective Brar is with the old ball when the pitch is not providing much help.
He further said, 'He bowls brilliantly with the old ball. You need extra speed and extra bounce. Of course he is quite tall but I think recently Prasidh has bowled the best of his career so far in both red ball and white ball formats. Therefore, it will be a very difficult decision for us to choose between the two.
Gill said that this series is an opportunity for players like Prasidh and Brar to present their claim in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is not in the team due to knee injury. He said, 'Jasprit Bumrah is not here but this is an opportunity for someone else to step up and leave his mark in the series.'
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What will be India's strategy in Gaul?
Gill also made it clear that India will have to adopt creative strategies to keep the pressure on against the strong team Sri Lanka at home. He said, 'The pace of a Test match is a little slow. So you have to keep trying different things to get wickets, especially in the sub-continent. You have to create chances, especially on the first and second days.
Gill said, 'If the pitch is not providing much help then how will you create pressure? How do you keep the game from slipping too much out of your hand? So this kind of creative fielding is helpful for our bowlers.
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Padikkal gets a chance at number 3
Left-handed batsman Devdutt Padikkal is expected to be fielded at number three in the absence of Sai Sudarshan. Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel, who is under pressure, is likely to bat in the middle order despite his poor performance in the last few tests. Gill said that the team management believes in giving each player enough time to settle into his assigned role and progress.
He said, 'We have players with immense ability and skill. It is not always easy for the batsmen coming into the team to start. We want them to be successful from the first innings or first Test itself but players progress as per their own time. It is important to give that time to the players. I also remember that when I came, I was not the most consistent player but the team kept faith in me and that is why I was able to succeed after a while.
Gill praised Padikkal
Gill expressed hope that Padikkal would take full advantage of this opportunity. He said, 'Not all of the players who are coming into the team are going to get great success from the first Test itself. Some players need a little more time.
The Indian captain said, 'But Padikkal has been a part of the team before also and has come here with India. He had performed well. He has all the necessary skills and ability to succeed in this format.