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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squad for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on August 15. Shubman Gill is set to lead the 15-man side, where Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah’s availability will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
In this article, let’s take a look at three Indian players who can make a mark in the series against Sri Lanka in the Island Nation.
Rishabh Pant may have lost his place in India’s white-ball sides but he is still an integral part of the red-ball setup. The wicketkeeper-batter will be key to India’s chances in the two-match series. This is because of his proven Test record and ability to dominate pacers and spinners alike.
Pant, who scored a 121-ball 81 in the only innings he played against Afghanistan last month, has not played Test cricket in Sri Lanka. However, against Sri Lanka, he has played three innings on Indian soil and scored two half-centuries. He is striking at 120.12 against the Lankan lions.
Kuldeep Yadav was a part of India’s side that faced Afghanistan in the one-off Test. He went wicketless in Afghanistan’s first innings but bagged three in the second. However, it was Manav Suthar who hogged the limelight with match figures of 7/62. Kuldeep remained on the bench for all three ODIs against England. However, he should finally get his time to shine as India’s main spin weapon. It will be important to see how the Asian giants use him in the series.
Kuldeep has played only one Test in Sri Lanka, where he picked up five wickets. This remains his only red-ball appearance against Sri Lanka. The left-arm wrist spinner could play a defining role in the series, even with a plethora of right-handers expected to feature in Sri Lanka’s playing XI.
Captain Shubman Gill will once again like to lead from the front. Since he took on leadership responsibilities in Test cricket, his numbers in the format have improved significantly. During the Test against Afghanistan, Shubman top-scored with a 126-run knock off 177 balls in New Chandigarh.
If Shubman gets into his groove, he could be very difficult to dismiss. It is interesting to note that the Punjab batter has not yet faced Sri Lanka in the longest format. Shubman had his problems early on against spinners, especially while defending them. However, he has worked on that aspect of his batting, and now, he looks to face them with a proactive approach. However, if Sri Lanka decide to play on rank turners, the 26-year-old’s technique is surely going to be tested.
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