India seek WTC revival as two-Test series with Sri Lanka begins in Galle
Shubman Gill’s India and Dhananjaya de Silva’s Sri Lanka met at Galle International Stadium on Friday ahead of the first Test of the two-match series that begins on Saturday, a fixture with implications for the ICC World Test Championship standings. India sit fifth in the WTC table and will be looking for wins, while Sri Lanka occupy sixth and aim to defend home conditions.
A lone crow, damp patches and shifting sunlight greeted players on the outfield as coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill inspected the pitch; Gill knelt to touch the surface and then discussed conditions with Gambhir. The ground prepared for a match that follows India’s early arrival and a warm-up victory in Colombo; the touring side also faces two away Tests in New Zealand and five home Tests against Australia next year.
Curators expect a surface that initially favours batters before offering assistance to spinners, a profile common to sub-continental venues. India will rely on K.L. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to provide starts and on Devdutt Padikkal and Gill to consolidate those foundations, with the batting unit needing collective contributions to post defendable totals.
Selection decisions centre on the middle order and the balance of the attack: Dhruv Jurel could retain a middle-order spot ahead of Sarfaraz Khan, while the returns of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are viewed as vital runs that would protect a comparatively light tail. If Gill opts for three frontline spinners, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna would be the designated pacers.
India’s spin options — Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar — would present left-arm slow challenges for Sri Lanka, and the hosts will counter with their own spin plans. Dhananjaya de Silva will seek a strong showing from his batting line-up; Dinesh Chandimal is part of the squad and local conditions could suit Sri Lanka’s batters.
Prabath Jayasuriya is singled out as a potential lynchpin in Sri Lanka’s spin attack, and off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha may make his debut for the hosts. Historically, India–Sri Lanka Tests have swung between heavy scoring and sudden collapses against spin, a pattern the preview suggests could repeat while also providing opportunities for young players to establish themselves.
Sri Lanka’s squad named for the series is: Dhananjaya de Silva (Capt.), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayaka, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka. India’s squad is: Shubman Gill (Capt.), K.L. Rahul (Vice-Capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain; the first Test starts at 10 a.m.
A positive result in Galle would help India as they pursue WTC points; the two-Test series offers an immediate chance to address recent home setbacks and set the tone ahead of a demanding schedule that follows.
