India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Match Prediction

Jan 9, 2019 at 3:50 PM

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India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Match Prediction

Finishing the first Test at Eden Garden on a high note, India will like to capitalise on confidence from the last Test to go ahead when they take on Sri Lanka in the second Test scheduled to start from November 24 at Nagpur. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will bank on their tall and lanky pacer Suranga Lakmal who bowled one of the best spells of his life to remove the Indian top-order in the first day of the rain-affected Test match.

Sri Lankan bowlers used the overcast condition to perfection and bowled India for 172 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara only reaching his half-century. Lakmal was of top quality as he picked four wickets giving away only 26 runs in 19 overs he bowled. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath topped Sri Lanka’s batting list with 67 runs in Sri Lanka’s reply as they were bowled out for 294 runs with Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar picking four wickets each. In the middle-order experienced Lahiru Thirimanne (51) and Angelo Matthews (52) played a 99 runs partnership to give Sri Lanka a lead of 122 runs.

Suranga Lakmal (Image Source: Facebook)

Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul got India off to a flier as the Lankan bowlers tried to find their form from the first innings. Dhawan missed the milestone by six runs; however skipper Virat Kohli reached his 50th international hundred on the fifth day of the match with a brilliant inside out over the cover region off Suranga Lakmal. Sri Lanka was in a spot of bother as the lost two wickets in 2 runs and was looking uncomfortable in front of Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a brilliant spell to pick up four wickets to reduce Sri Lanka at 75 for 7 before the umpires called it for the day due to bad light.

Virat Kohli (Image Source: Espncricinfo)

Team News

India:

India will miss the service of their star opener Shikhar Dhawan who smashed the blowers in the second innings to score a useful 94 runs and the man of the match from the last Test at Eden Gardens Bhuvneshwar Kumar who opted out from the second Test citing personal reasons. While Murali Vijay will make a comeback to the first XI after recovering a wrist injury, it will be interesting to see who gets a nod in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Notably, Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who has had a magnificent stint in the Ranji Trophy as well as for India A side has been called in as a replacement for Kumar. Shami, who was looking a bit weary with his ankle on the fourth day of the match, is all fit and raring to go.

Murali Vijay Asked to Play Ranji Game Ahead of Test Series Against Sri Lanka

Squad: Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar

Sri Lanka:

The Islanders are likely to play the same team from the first Test at Eden Gardens. They will depend on their star player Suranga Lakmal to repeat the heroics from the first match. Rangana Herath, who is otherwise successful against every team, will be keen on to improve his average against India and his form will be key for the Sri Lankan side. Angelo Matthews will once again not bowl in this match to avoid injury, and it will be a headache for Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal to find alternatives during crunch situation. It will be a good opportunity for the Lankan side to break the deadlock and register their first win against India in India.

Rangana Herath

Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage
Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva

Prediction:

With experience and recent performances on their side, India is likely to win the match at Nagpur. The no 1 ICC Test team has a number of quality players in their ranks which gives them the extra mileage to win the match and go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Virat Kohli & Co will be eager to keep their unbeaten run to not lose a series intact under the leadership of Kohli.

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