The second Test between Sri Lanka and India is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 23, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. India head into the match with a 1-0 series lead after a convincing win in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium.
The SSC surface is expected to offer good batting conditions with little grass cover, meaning bowlers will need to be patient and disciplined. As the match moves into its later stages, spinners are likely to become increasingly influential on the surface. Pacers will have to make the new ball count, as once the ball gets softer, it will be very difficult for them to make inroads.
Top 3 bowlers to watch out for in SL vs IND 2nd Test
3. Saransh Jain
Off-spinner Saransh Jain is in contention to make his Test debut in Colombo. The 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has accumulated 188 first-class wickets in 54 matches and could replace Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI.
Jain’s off-spin would add variety to an attack that already includes two left-arm spinners in Suthar and Jadeja. His style of bowling could be particularly effective against the left-handed batters in Sri Lanka’s middle order, and any assistance from the Colombo surface would make him a difficult proposition to handle.
2. Prabath Jayasuriya
Prabath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s most effective bowler in the first Test, picking up seven wickets across the match at Galle. He will be the home side’s primary bowling threat in Colombo as they look to level the series.
Jayasuriya dismissed India captain Shubman Gill twice in the first Test, and Gill has since spent extra time in the Colombo nets facing left-arm spin from Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja and local bowlers. Jayasuriya will need to have a memorable game, especially from his team’s collective bowling effort if Sri Lanka are to stay competitive in this match.
1. Manav Suthar
Manav Suthar was the standout bowler of the first Test at Galle, claiming a 10-wicket match haul in only his second Test appearance. He returned figures of 4/76 in the first innings and followed that up with 6/55 in the second innings, with the latter spell sealing India’s victory.
Sri Lankan batters struggled to read Suthar’s left-arm spin throughout the Galle Test, and they will need to come up with better plans against him in Colombo. His ability to bowl tight lines and exploit any assistance from the surface makes him a serious threat once again.
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