The second Test match of the series between India and Sri Lanka began on August 23rd (Sunday) at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. During this match, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to start with the bowlers.
There were changes in the starting XI of the Indian team. Spinner Saransh Jain made his debut in Tests, while Kuldeep Yadav was not included in the squad. However, it was clarified that Kuldeep was not dropped from the team. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an update regarding Kuldeep Yadav.
According to BCCI data, Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from a viral illness, making him unavailable for selection. BCCI also reported that Kuldeep could potentially play as a concussion substitute if necessary.
Prior to the second Test, Kuldeep Yadav's place in the squad was actively discussed. In the first match, played in Galle, he took only one wicket. At that time, he was given significantly fewer opportunities to bowl compared to Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Chatur. This led to speculation that the Indian team might change its spin combination in the second Test.
Nevertheless, it became clear that Kuldeep Yadav's absence from the starting lineup was a result of his illness, not a strategic decision. It is worth noting that Saransh Jain is one of the 320 players who play Test matches for India, and the 33-year-old Saransh received his debut cap from all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
India had previously won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Now, the Indian team aims to conclude the series with a win or a draw in the Colombo match.
The Indian squad included: Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Chatur, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. The Sri Lankan squad consisted of: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Suriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Danjaney De Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickve (wicketkeeper), Kesara Nuwanta, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumar, and Asitha Fernando.