India won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday. Shubman Gill’s side enters the match with a 1-0 lead after a commanding victory in Galle, where Manav Suthar claimed 10 wickets and played a major role in India’s success. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to level the two-match series on home soil.

The major selection development for India is the Test debut of 33-year-old all-rounder Saransh Jain. He comes into the playing XI as India make a change to their spin combination for the Colombo Test. Jain’s inclusion gives the visitors another all-round option as they look to maintain the momentum gained from their opening-match victory.

Kuldeep Yadav is absent from India’s XI after being ruled out because of an infection. His absence is therefore not being treated as a straightforward selection decision based on his performance in Galle. Kuldeep’s withdrawal leaves India without one of their key spin options, while Jain gets an opportunity to make his mark in his first Test appearance for the national side.

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Gill’s decision to bat first gives India the chance to put runs on the board and immediately put pressure on Sri Lanka. Conditions in Colombo will be closely watched as the match progresses, particularly how the pitch behaves for batting and spin. With India already ahead in the series, a strong first-innings total could give the visitors a significant advantage.

Sri Lanka have also made one change to their playing XI as they attempt to respond after losing the opening Test. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva will be hoping his side can produce a stronger all-round performance and prevent India from taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The hosts face the added pressure of needing a victory to keep the two-match series alive.

For India, the Colombo Test represents another opportunity to build on their recent success under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill. A victory would seal the series and give India their first overseas Test series win under Gambhir. With India batting first and a new player making his debut, the opening sessions could prove crucial in determining the direction of the match.

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