Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis unlikely for Sri Lanka’s opening Test against India in Galle

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are unlikely to be available for Sri Lanka’s opening Test against India in Galle on August 15, according to reports in Revsportz. Both players remain in rehabilitation and their availability for the second Test at the SSC in Colombo from August 23 is also uncertain.

The two-match Test series between Sri Lanka and India forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle and begins in Galle on August 15, with the second match scheduled for August 23 at the SSC in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s batting combination has been affected by injuries to established players ahead of the series, creating selection uncertainty for the hosts. Reports indicate that Nissanka and Mendis could miss the entire two-match series if they do not recover in time. The visiting side is described in coverage as the Shubman Gill-led team.

Nissanka has been sidelined for the opening Test as he continues his recovery from a wrist surgery, the report said. He is undergoing rehabilitation and, per the same coverage, faces an uncertain chance of returning even for the second Test. That ongoing recovery has opened a vacancy at the top of Sri Lanka’s batting order for the Galle match.

Mendis sustained a hamstring injury during the Lanka Premier League tournament, according to the report, and is also undergoing rehabilitation. His likely absence from the first Test creates a specific selection problem because he occupies the wicketkeeper-batter role for Sri Lanka. The report states that his chances of featuring in the second match currently appear slim.

Nishan Madushka is expected to move to the top of the order in Nissanka’s absence; Madushka scored 66 for Sri Lanka Cricket XI against India in the ongoing three-day warm-up match in Colombo, which has been cited as strengthening his case. That performance in the warm-up appears to have positioned him as a frontrunner for the opening-match role.

For the wicketkeeping spot, Sri Lanka have several options named in the report: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Anjana Bandara and Niroshan Dickwella. The coverage notes that Dickwella last played a Test in 2023. Team management will need to finalise the playing combination before the series opener given those alternatives.

Sri Lanka must settle their top-order and wicketkeeping selections ahead of the first Test on August 15 in Galle; the second Test follows at the SSC in Colombo from August 23. The immediate task for the hosts is to confirm their XI while Nissanka and Mendis continue rehabilitation, with their participation in the series still uncertain, the report added.