Indian Players Who Can Be Dropped For Second Test Vs Sri Lanka Despite Win In Galle

Several Indian players are under scrutiny after first Test [Source: AFP]

In their 600th Test match, India defeated Sri Lanka in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The visitors needed to win the Test series 2-0 to stay alive in the WTC final race, and they started off strongly by crushing the hosts in the opening fixture.

The first Test in Galle had plenty of match-winners for India, with Manav Suthar breaking several records with his fiery spell, and Devdutt Padikkal scoring his maiden Test ton in the first innings to help India post a commanding total.

However, there were a few Indian players who failed to deliver the goods and crumbled under pressure, either with the bat or with the ball in hand, and are on the firing line.

In this article, we take a look at the Indian players who can be dropped from the second Test vs Sri Lanka despite the resounding win in Galle.

1) Yashasvi Jaiswal

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored runs in patches since 2025, but the consistency with which he played in his debut year has been missing from his arsenal.

He scored just 32 runs in the first Test vs Sri Lanka and was run out in the first innings. Moreover, the batter registered a duck in the second innings to push India on the back foot.

Meanwhile, his recent Test stats are also not impressive, and the numbers reveal the story:

(Jaiswal Test stats since 2025)

• As the table reveals, since the start of 2025, Jaiswal’s numbers have dipped in Tests, as he averages a mere 36, with 801 runs under his belt.
• He has lacked the cutting edge in the last few Tests and the bowlers have found ways to dismiss him in red-ball cricket.
• Hence, the team management should drop him from the playing XI for the second Test match. In his place, Sarfaraz Khan can come in, with Padikkal moving to the top.

2) Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav is a curious case in Indian cricket. Be it white-ball cricket or red-ball cricket, the wily spinner has not been trusted by the Indian skipper.

In the first innings against Sri Lanka, the spinner conceded 65 runs in 14 overs and picked up a solitary wicket. The hosts played with aggression as Kuldeep looked a pale shadow of his former self.

Also Read: Not Manav Suthar! Sri Lanka Captain Credits 2 Indian Players For Their Win In Galle Test

In 2026, Kuldeep has played two Tests and has scalped 4 wickets, with an average of 33.75. Amongst all three Indian spinners, Kuldeep bowled the fewest overs, and perhaps India could do with an inclusion of Saransh Jain, who not only can deliver with his off-break bowling, but can also contribute with the bat.

3) Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj played in the first Test match and picked up two wickets, but there was something unusual about his bowling.

Normally, Siraj bowls in the region of 135-140 km/h, but in the second innings, his average speed was around 126 clicks, and the fastest delivery that he bowled was 132.8 km/h.

Speculation rose that Siraj has been playing the Test match with a niggle, and if that is true, Gurnoor Brar can be brought into the playing XI to give Siraj some rest before the all-important New Zealand tour.

Also Read: PCB Finalises New Series For Pakistan Before 2027 ODI World Cup