Coming on back of a humiliating 9-0 whitewash in their backyard, Sri Lanka travelled India with some intent of improving themselves. Indeed, the Lions were successful in putting up a more matured and upgraded performance away from home in the first Test against Virat Kohli’s gang at the Eden Garden’s Kolkata.
The Sri Lankans dominated the first half of the proceedings with an excellent bowling performance led by Suranga Lakmal. The Indians were forced to a wall but came back exceedingly well in the second half and were minutes away from a remarkable victory.
Despite the batting collapse in the second innings, Dinesh Chandimal and his men showed the hunger to fight which they lacked at home. The Eden Garden’s encounter will be a huge boost to their morale and will undoubtedly make them believe that they can beat the Indians in the second Test at Nagpur. Here is the Sri Lankan predicted XI for the 2nd Test:
Openers- Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne
Despite the openers failing to make it big in the first Test match, both Samarawickrama and Karunaratne is likely to be retained for the second Test. Samarawickrama will get a few more chances due to the recent failures of Upul Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka at the opening spot. Karunaratne, on the other hand, holds his position strong as he was the lone warrior against the Indians earlier this year.
Middle Order- Lahiru Thirimane, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Niroshan Dickwella
Lahiru Thirimane and Angelo Mathews will fill up the 3rd and the 4th spot respectively as they did in the first Test. Both the batsmen looked in good touch with respective half-centuries to their name. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal comes in next at the heart of the middle order. Chandimal will hope to repeat his 150-run knock against India in 2015, but the batsman is nowhere near his very best right now. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella will follow the skipper. Both Chandimal (28) and Dickwella (35) got starts in the first innings but failed to make it big, and the duo will look forward to turning it around this time.
All-rounders– Dasun Shanaka and Dilruwan Perera
Dasun Shanaka marks the beginning of the allrounders in Sri Lanka’s line-up. Right-handed batsman Dilruwan Perera who got involved in the DRS controversy at the Eden gardens comes in next. While these two are yet to make a mark in the series, veteran bowling all-rounder, Rangana Herath has already done so with his bat.
Bowlers – Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage and Rangana Herath
Suranga Lakmal is the absolute key to Sri Lanka’s success in the second Test. The bowler weaved magic with his spell in the first Test as he rattled the Indian batting order with ease. Lakmal finished the match with seven wickets, which is one less than Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India. He will pair up with Lahiru Gamage to lead the Lankan pace attack. A gutsy 67 not out in the first innings from Herath helped Sri Lanka stretch their lead to 122 runs. As far as the bowling is concerned, without a shade of Herath is one of greatest in the Sri Lankan Test bowling history.