Gill departs after half-century; Team India reach 187 runs at tea on Day 1

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In the second Test match against Sri Lanka, Team India has reached the score of 187 runs for the loss of three wickets in 52 overs at tea on Day 1 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo.

Devdutt Padikkal and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant are unbeaten at the crease.

Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara have claimed two and one wicket, respectively. Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, and Sonal Dinusha will continue the hunt for their first wicket.

Having opted to bat first, Team India’s opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 45 runs in 53 balls, including nine boundaries. Fellow opening batsman KL Rahul was dismissed on 18 runs in 33 balls, which included two boundaries and a maximum.

Skipper Shubman Gill departed after scoring 50 runs in 108 balls, with the help of six boundaries.

The visitors entered the clash with one change. Saransh Jain came in place of Kuldeep Yadav. Jain made his Test debut for Team India.

After winning the toss, Team India‘s skipper Gill said, “Batting first, yes. [On the pitch] It looks like a much harder, much better surface compared to Galle. Galle was also a very good wicket, but I think as the game went on, it got a little bit slower and the ball started to turn. We’re expecting the same, but I think for the first two or three days, I think it’ll be a really good wicket to bat on. [Playing XI] Kuldeep, unfortunately, had some infections, so he misses out, and Saransh makes his debut for India. [How he would rate the Galle win] I would say probably a nine, because there’s always room for improvement, and I think we played a pretty good match, a decent match. And obviously there were some areas where we could have got a little bit better, but, you know, this is Test cricket. It’s very, very difficult to be able to have a near-perfect game because you’re playing for five days, and to play that dominant and consistent cricket, especially in Test, is hard. But I think overall we had a pretty good match”.

On the other hand, the hosts have made two changes. Kamil Mishara made his Test debut. Pasindu Sooriyabandara has been picked up in the playing XI, and Nishan Madushka, along with Dinesh Chandimal, have been benched for the second Test match.

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