![Sri Lanka name replacements [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787235786479_Sri_Lanka.jpg?type=hq)
Sri Lanka name replacements [Source: AFP]
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has added two players to its squad for the upcoming series-deciding second Test match against India. The players are set to serve as replacements for the Sri Lanka cricket team in the absence of injured batters Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal.
Earlier this month, both Kusal and Chandimal were ruled out of the Sri Lanka squad ahead of the must-win Test for the two sides.
SLC add uncapped stars for second Test vs India
The SLC has added Sri Lanka cricketers Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige to their Test squad for the upcoming second match of the series against Team India. It is worth noting that both Mishara and Arachchige are yet to make their Test debuts for Sri Lanka.
Also Read- Not Manav Suthar! Sri Lanka Captain Credits 2 Indian Players For Their Win In Galle Test
While Mishara has previously played six ODIs and 24 T20Is for his country, Arachchige has represented Sri Lanka in six matches across both white-ball formats.
Kamil Mishara, however, holds a prolific first-class record in Sri Lanka, having aggregated 3,521 runs in 81 innings at an astonishing average of 46.94 and with a strike rate of above 60.
Sahan Arachchige, on the other hand, has minted 4,365 runs from 129 innings in the format at an average of 37.95. The star all-rounder has also bagged 63 wickets in red-ball cricket at an average of 45.36.
What happened to Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis was ruled out of the Test series against India earlier this month. The 31-year-old is yet to fully recover from the hamstring injury he sustained during the LPL 2026 season in the country.
A few days later, several reports indicated that the SLC was considering players like Niroshan Dickwella and Anjala Bandara in the Sri Lanka squad as potential replacements of Kusal Mendis.
While Dickwella played the first Test of the series for Sri Lanka and served as their wicketkeeper, Bandara was not included in their 15-player squad.
Dinesh Chandimal, meanwhile, was ruled out of the Sri Lanka line-up halfway into the series-opener in Galle earlier this week. The cricketer suffered a neck injury, and was replaced by accidental debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara on Day 4 as Chandimal’s concussion substitute.
Sooriyabandara fell for a first-ball duck to notch up a huge unwanted record as a debutant for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka go 0-1 down in series
In the absence of injured Kusal Mendis and a substituted Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka cricket team lost the first Test at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. Chasing 372 runs for a win on Days 4 and 5, the hosts folded up for just 206 to fall 165 runs short of their target.
It is imperative for Sri Lanka to win the impending second Test against India in a bid to level the two-match WTC 2025-27 series. The match will be hosted by the SSC Cricket Club in Colombo between August 23 and August 27.
Also Read- Watch- Virender Sehwag's Son Aaryavir Sehwag Replicates Father's GOATED Move
