Sri Lanka forced to make crucial changes for second Test (Source: AFP)
Sri Lanka faced an embarrassing thrashing at the hands of a young, less experienced India, led by Shubman Gill, in the first Test of the two-match series in Galle. None of the Sri Lankan batters looked to have an answer for the left-arm Indian spinner Manav Suthar, who picked up 10-wickets in the game.
Sonal Dinusha played a lone hand for the home team with 81 runs. Although Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella batted splendidly, Sri Lanka could only manage 284 runs while chasing a target of 372.
The Dhananjaya de Silva-led side was never in the chase, as, apart from the partnership between de Silva and Sonal, the hosts offered little resistance.
Sri Lanka Test squad tweaked against India
Following the 165-run defeat, Sri Lanka were forced to make crucial changes to their squad ahead of the second Test against India in Colombo in the ICC World Test Championship series.
Also read: Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis’ Replacement Announced By Sri Lanka For 2nd Test vs India
Along the same lines, further, in this article, we have noted the full list of changes Sri Lanka Cricket had to make for the must-win second Test against India.
Sri Lanka squad for First Test against India:
Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
Sri Lanka squad for Second Test against India:
Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Ratnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando
1) Batter Kamil Mishara added to curb batting woes
On top of that, Mishara has earned the call-up on the back of a career-best run of white-ball form. In the recently concluded Lanka Premier League (LPL), he struck 411 runs across 10 games.
He followed his pitch-perfect form with a 72-ball 145 in the Major League T20 for Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC). Apart from that, Mishara’s most recent red-ball exploits came in April against New Zealand A, where his 168-ball 174 led Sri Lanka A to an innings victory.
He will very likely slot into the opener’s role alongside Lahiru Udara as Nishan Madushka failed to impress with dismal scores of a duck and a 6 in the Galle Test.
2) All-rounder Sahan Arachchige earns a spot after successful run against India A
The other fresh face, Arachchige, is another whose most recent run of form has come in white-ball cricket. The batting allrounder struck 240 runs across ten innings in the LPL, as well as a 61* off 27 for NCC in a Major League T20 last week.
Arachchige also bowls right-arm offbreaks, which have fetched him 63 wickets across 85 first-class matches; in those games he has scored 4365 runs at an average of 37.95. Arachchige last played red-ball cricket against India A in July, where he captained Sri Lanka A and scored 127 off 207 in the first innings.
Sahan Arachchige's inclusion in the squad means he will be vying for a role as Chandimal's replacement alongside Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who made his debut in the first Test as a concussion substitute.
A first-ball duck would not have done him any favours, but his 4893 first-class runs at an average of 53.76 since debuting in 2018 certainly carry weight.
3) Injury scare mounts for Sri Lanka
Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal are out of the second Test against India in Colombo. Pathum Nissanka is also unavailable for the match.
Mendis has not played any competitive cricket since busting a hamstring in the early rounds of the Lanka Premier League. He was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella in the Test squad.
Moreover, after the Galle Test, Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that Mendis has a “proper hamstring injury” sustained during the Lanka Premier League and won’t be available for a while.
Also read: Dinesh Chandimal Ruled Out Of India vs Sri Lanka Test Series, Another Star Player In Doubt
Chandimal was ruled out of the Galle Test following an injury while fielding on Day 4, with concussion protocols necessitating a minimum seven-day stand-down time. He was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute.
Nissank, meanwhile, is still battling to recover from the wrist surgery he underwent in June. Earlier, he was understood to be closer than Mendis to being match fit. However, his absence from the squad for the 2nd Test vs India proves that he is still experiencing discomfort.
All this means Sri Lanka will be without three first-choice batters, as they attempt to recover from a 1-0 deficit in the two-match series.
4) Ramesh Mendis and Dilshan Madushanka dropped for Colombo Test
Spin-bowling all-rounder Ramesh Mendis was selected for Sri Lanka’s 16-member squad for the first Test, but he has since been sidelined and dropped from the squad for the second Test.
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka was recalled to the 16-member squad for the first Test at Galle, having made his sole Test appearance back in 2023 against Pakistan. He was expected to add firepower and variety to Sri Lanka’s pace attack.
However, despite not being given an opportunity in the playing 11 for the first Test, he has been omitted from the squad for the Colombo Test.
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