The stage is all set for them in Bangalore, a city now tied thanks to Royal Challengers Bangalore, expecting a full house at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the first two days. Bangalore is starved of international cricket, and with fans staring at its stars as well, with no Indian Premier League matches being held at the venue for the past two years.
India last played here in 2018 against Afghanistan, and despite it being a red-ball day game, the match ended within two days.
On the eve of the match, it was expected that the Test would last longer, that Sri Lanka would show more fighting than in the first Test in Mohali. Sri Lanka batted 65 overs in their first innings and lasted 60 overs when asked to follow-on.
There was little to do on that pitch in Mohali and while India’s bowlers were good, what Ravindra Jadeja did for the entire Sri Lankan team, there was no real reason to be at No.
Sri Lanka’s injury problem
However, Sri Lanka’s hopes suffered a setback when Pathum Nissanka, who scored 61 in the first innings of the first Test, was ruled out due to a back injury.
He is replaced by Kusal Mendis, who brings little experience to the batting lineup.
To further compound their problems, Dushmantha Chameera, who was rested for the first Test to be specially fit for the pink ball game, was also pitched down.
The other drastic change for Sri Lanka was the addition of left-arm spinner Praveen Jayavikrama for Lahiru Kumara, who was paralyzed in the first Test due to a hamstring injury.
Sri Lanka Cricket has decided that Chameera’s workload needs to be managed, and with the T20 World Cup due in October, he will play only white-ball cricket till then.
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The Bangalore pitch, which has traditionally been good for batting, did not look dangerous for a day. There was little, if any, grass on the gray-looking surface, and it left India with something to ponder.
Axar Patel, who was included in the squad for the second Test, was the frontrunner to replace Jayant Yadav, who was hardly needed in the first Test. In two innings, Jayant bowled just 17 overs and was the only Indian bowler to not take a wicket.
India also have the option of playing Mohammad Siraj in place of Jayant if they feel that a third pacer will be needed under the lights.
Akshar’s inclusion in the team raises the possibility that Ravindra Jadeja, who had the game of his life in Mohali, may struggle with a swallow. But, for the two days that the team was to practice in Bangalore, Jadeja was present. In the alternate session the day before the game, he had a stellar performance with the bat in the nets.
Jasprit Bumrah said, “We are playing the pink ball Test after a long time. We have to make some mental adjustments. It is not natural for us to catch the pink ball. We are still new to this format.”
Sri Lanka will be hoping against hope that this unfamiliarity with the format will slip India.
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