Shubman Gill won the toss and India elected to bat first as the opening Test against Sri Lanka began at Galle International Stadium on Saturday.
India’s playing XI comprises Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, captain Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka’s XI features Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando.
Gill’s availability had been uncertain after a finger injury sustained during training in Colombo, but he was cleared to lead the team.
Play got under way at 10:00 am IST, with India aiming to post a competitive total on a fresh surface.
The Test also marks a milestone as the 50th to be played at the Galle International Stadium.
Galle International Stadium, set beside the historic Galle Fort on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, is regarded as one of the most picturesque Test venues in world cricket and has traditionally offered assistance to spinners as matches progress.
India’s line-up for the Test includes Dhruv Jurel and Manav Suthar, both part of a young squad being built around Gill’s captaincy as India transitions its Test leadership.
Sri Lanka’s playing XI is led by Dhananjaya de Silva, with wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and spinner Prabath Jayasuriya among the key figures named in the home side’s line-up.
Gill’s finger injury, sustained during a training session in Colombo before the tour’s warm-up match, had put his availability for the Test series in doubt, though he was cleared to lead the side after a gradual return to batting practice.
This is the two-match series opener, with the second and final Test to follow, as Sri Lanka and India resume Test cricket ties in what is a milestone 50th Test staged at the Galle International Stadium.
Photo by Price Zero, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
