Sri Lanka v India- Second Test Match Preview

Kohli will look to seal the series. Pic courtesy: India.com

Match Details

Series: India Tour of Sri Lanka, July-Sep 2017

Venue: SSC Ground, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dates: August 3-7

Match of Series: 2nd test of a 3-match series

Series Status: India leading 1-0

Time: 10 am Local Time

India- Probable Starting Eleven

India will take the field on Colombo with an aim to deliver the knock out blow to Sri Lanka, in what appears to be another battle of unmatched. The visitors will look to continue the winning ways, with the pitch likely to be support spin better than the Galle pitch. Given the nature of the pitch, Kuldeep Yadav might be introduced as the third spinner in place of Hardik Pandya. With Kohli confirming KL Rahul as the definite starter in the eleven, the second opener' slot will be a toss up between Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund, with Dhawan likely to edge out the Tamil Nadu opener after his career best knock of 190 in Galle.


1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. KL Rahul
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Virat Kohli (c)
5. Ajinkya Rahane
6. R Ashwin
7. W Saha (wk)
8. Ravindra Jadeja
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Md Shami
11. Umesh Yadav


Sri Lanka- Probable Starting Eleven

Sri Lanka will be boosted by the return of their new captain Dinesh Chandimal, who will make the batting order stronger by his return to the fragile middle order. Rangana Herath looks set to be the part of the match putting all the injury worries to rest. Kusal Mendis will return to his favourite no3 position in the order. Like India, Sri Lanka might be tempted to play three spinners, which would mean a debut for 30-year old left-arm spinner Pushpakumara. There is a chance of newly drafted all-rounder Dhananjaya De Silva to replace Gunathilaka, who is set to miss out after a poor show with the bat on debut. 

1. Upul Tharanga
2. Dimuth Karunaratne
3. Kusal Mendis
4. Dinesh Chandimal(c)
5.  Angelo Mathews
6. N Dickwella (wk)
7. D De Silva
8.  R Herath
9. Dilruwan Perera
10. M Pushpakumara/Lahiru Kumara
11. Nuwan Pradeep

Players to look out for

Kuldeep Yadav( India)

Given he debuts, Kuldeep Yadav's chinaman can be too hot to handle on the turning Colombo pitch. Yadav had an impressive West Indies tour where he troubled the batsmen with his variations throughout the tour.

Upul Tharanga(SL)
 The stylish left-hander didn't have a good Galle match but Colombo might change things, as his form would be key to Sri Lanka's batting at the top of the order. With Chandimal set to return, Tharanga can play his natural game with more ease- the exact counterattack SL needs to need the series in this test.