Following a heavy defeat to India in the Galle match, the Sri Lankan team is facing serious difficulties. To level the series, the team needs to win the second Test match. Otherwise, if there is a draw or another loss, India will secure the series victory.
The second match is scheduled for August 23 and will take place at the Singlish Sports Club stadium in Colombo. Before this match, the problems of the Sri Lankan team have worsened even further.
Kusala Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal are out of the squad for the second Test, and the participation of Pathum Nissanka remains uncertain. The head coach of the Sri Lankan team, Gary Kirsten, provided updated information on player injuries after the Galle match. He specified that Kusala Mendis' hamstring injury is serious, and he will not be able to participate in the games for now.
Gary Kirsten stated: 'Kusala Mendis has suffered a serious hamstring injury. He will be unavailable for some time.'
The biggest blow for Sri Lanka was the absence of Dinesh Chandimal. During the Galle match, he sustained a neck and shoulder injury while fielding. He was replaced by Pasindu Suriyabandara, who came on as a substitute with a concussion, but was removed from the game after the first ball without scoring any runs.
Furthermore, Pathum Nissanka is recovering from wrist surgery. According to Kirsten's statement, he also will not be able to play in the next Test. Consequently, Sri Lanka will have to make significant changes to its main squad. Niroshan Dickvella was included in the Test team in place of Kusala Mendis, who took advantage of the opportunity in Galle and scored 80 runs in the first half of the match.
Kirsten noted that Sri Lanka's starting lineup was the main weakness in Galle. In the first half of the match, the team lost five players, having only 99 runs. Nevertheless, thanks to the fight from the lower and middle order players, the hosts managed to extend the game to the fifth day. Kirsten admitted that the failures of the starting lineup in both halves of the match worked against the team, but he also highlighted the positive aspect of the players' fight under difficult conditions.
Sri Lanka has lost its last two Tests. In June, the team lost to West Indies in North Sound by 217 runs and one innings. Now they face a heavy defeat to India. Gary Kirsten believes that the team is gradually adapting to the demands of this format through regular Test matches. He also thinks that the absence of experienced batsmen could be a good opportunity for young players who consistently score runs in domestic cricket. Before the match in Colombo, the main task for the Sri Lankan management is to form a strong batting lineup. The absence of key batsmen has significantly increased the pressure on the opposing team, India, as the series is at stake.