Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of the playing XI due to an infection, opening the way for Saransh Jain to make his senior debut
Published: August 23, 2026, 9:45 AM IST
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India and Sri Lanka players exchange handshakes after India won by 165 runs during the fifth day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and India, in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026(Photo: IANS/Pratik Koli)
India will look to finish the two-Test series on a high when they face Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from SundayIndia lead 1-0 after a 165-run win in the opening Test in Galle.
The first Test was largely controlled by IndiaDevdutt Padikkal’s 167 was the main highlight as India posted a big first-innings total, while their spinners kept Sri Lanka under pressure through the matchManav Suthar was the standout bowler, taking 6/55 in Sri Lanka’s second innings to finish with 10 wickets in the matchIndia eventually bowled Sri Lanka out for 206 while defending 372.
Sri Lanka now have to find a way to stop India’s spinners and improve their battingTheir task has become harder with Kusal Mendis ruled out with a hamstring injury and Dinesh Chandimal unavailable after suffering a concussion in GallePathum Nissanka is also still recovering from wrist surgery.
India, meanwhile, have a selection decision to make in the spin departmentKuldeep Yadav took only one wicket in Galle, while Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja made a bigger impactThe team could consider another spin option for the Colombo conditions, although the final call will depend on the pitch.
The match is also important in the World Test ChampionshipIndia are fifth with 64 points and a points percentage of 53.33 after the Galle win, while Sri Lanka are sixth at 33.33 per centA second win would push India closer to the top four and strengthen their WTC campaign.
Sri Lanka need a much better batting effort if they are to level the seriesIndia, on the other hand, have the chance to win their first overseas Test series since 2023 and leave Colombo with a 2-0 result.
India Vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Toss update
India won the toss and decided to bat first.
India Vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.
