Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Gill Elects to Bat as Saransh Jain Debuts in Colombo
India and Sri Lanka are playing the second and final Test match of their series.
India already leads the series 1-0 after winning the first match by 165 runs.
India won the toss, which lets a team choose whether to bat or bowl first, and decided to bat.
Captain Shubman Gill said the Colombo pitch should be good for batting during the first few days.
India made one change by giving Saransh Jain his first Test match.
Kuldeep Yadav missed the game because he was still recovering from an infection or viral illness.
Sri Lanka also made changes and gave Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara their Test debuts.
India is trying to win the series 2-0, while Sri Lanka is trying to level it.
India won the toss and chose to bat first in the second and final Test in Colombo.
India leads the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
Off-spinner Saransh Jain is making his Test debut for India in place of Kuldeep Yadav.
Shubman Gill said Kuldeep was unavailable because he had not fully recovered from an infection or viral illness.
Sri Lanka included debutants Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara in its playing XI.
- Who
- India, led by Shubman Gill, and Sri Lanka, led by Dhananjaya de Silva.
- What
- The teams are playing the second and final Test; India won the toss and elected to bat first.
- When
- Sunday, according to the reports.
- Where
- The Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- India is seeking a 2-0 series sweep, while Sri Lanka is trying to prevent a series defeat by leveling the series.
India’s Bat-First Approach
Sri Lanka’s Preference to Bowl
Toss strategy
India’s Bat-First Approach
Shubman Gill chose to bat, saying the harder Colombo surface should be very good for batting during the first two or three days.
Sri Lanka’s Preference to Bowl
Dhananjaya de Silva said he would have preferred to bowl first because cloud cover might help Sri Lanka take early wickets and apply pressure.
Match outlook
India’s Bat-First Approach
India can use the toss to build a strong first-innings total and pursue a 2-0 series sweep after winning in Galle.
Sri Lanka’s Preference to Bowl
Sri Lanka wants to exploit early bowling conditions, recover from its first-Test defeat and prevent India from completing the sweep.
- Series score
- India leads Sri Lanka 1-0 in the two-match series.
- First-Test result
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle.
- Toss
- India won the toss and elected to bat first.
- India debutant
- Saransh Jain is making his Test debut as an off-spinner and spin-bowling all-rounder.
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Kuldeep missed selection because he had not fully recovered from an infection or viral illness; the BCCI said he could be used as a concussion substitute if required.
- Sri Lanka debutants
- Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara are making their Test debuts.
- Pitch assessment
- Gill and Dhananjaya de Silva described the Colombo surface as harder and better for batting than the Galle pitch.
Sources
Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test Live: IND Elect To Bat First vs SL, Saransh Jain Makes Debut; Check Playing XIs
IND vs SL 2nd Test: Saransh Jain debuts as India bat first in Colombo; Kuldeep misses out
IND vs SL, 2nd Test: Shubman Gill Wins Toss & Chooses To Bat; Saransh Jain Handed Debut Replacing Kuldeep Yadav