The Indian team has arrived in Sri Lanka for the two-Test series. The first Test is scheduled to be played in Galle from August 15th. Prior to that, Team India is practicing at the NCC Ground in Colombo. Top-order batsman Sai Sudharshan is currently in Bengaluru, recovering from his injury under the supervision of medical staff at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE). Washington Sundar is also injured and is out of the first Test.
In Sundar’s absence, Saransh Jain could be given a chance to make his Test debut. Ravindra Jadeja will lead the spin department, supported by Kuldeep Yadav. Manav Suthar, who recently shone on his Test debut against Afghanistan, may have to sit out now that Jadeja has joined the team. In addition to these four spinners, four more spinners—Tanush Kotian, Harsh Dubey, Vipraaj Nigam, and Shivang Kumar—have also been sent to Sri Lanka as net bowlers.
Team India does not want to make any mistake
The Indian team has recently suffered Test defeats on home soil. Foreign spinners have come to India and have been seen making the Indian batsmen dance to their spin. First, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips dismissed the Indian stars. Then, South Africa’s Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj tightened the reins.
A major reason for Team India’s clean sweep against New Zealand and South Africa was the batsmen’s submission to spinners. The team management wants to address the batsmen’s weakness against spin by having them practice against different spinners so they don’t get caught in the gully. Tanush Kotian bowls off-spin, while Harshu Dubey is a left-arm spinner. Vipraag Nigam is a leg-spinner, while Shivang Kumar is a left-arm wrist spinner.
Sri Lanka’s spin department is lethal
Sri Lanka has a lethal spinner like Prabhat Jayasuriya, who could prove to be a threat to the Indian batsmen. Left-arm spinner Prabhat has taken 125 wickets in just 23 Test matches. He will be supported by spinners like Ramesh Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. Most of the Indian batsmen have not played against these spinners. Therefore, the Indian team management is leaving no stone unturned and wants to prepare for the red ball by playing different types of spinners.
Indian squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnur Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Aaqib Nabi.