Sri Lanka reshuffle squad for Colombo Test, Chandimal and Mendis out

Sri Lanka have made changes to their squad for the second Test against India in Colombo, with Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis both ruled out injured.

Chandimal was sidelined after sustaining a concussion during the first Test at Galle, while Mendis missed the entire opener with a hamstring injury.

Uncapped players Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige have been brought into the squad on the back of strong domestic form.

Arachchige’s selection comes after he scored 127 for Sri Lanka A against India A.

Sri Lanka’s pace bowling options for the Test include Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando and Milan Ratnayake, with Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha as spin options.

The reshuffle comes with Sri Lanka trailing 0-1 in the series following India’s 165-run win at Galle, with opener Pathum Nissanka also out as he continues recovering from wrist surgery.

India go into the Colombo Test already holding a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, meaning a win or draw would be enough to seal a series victory.

The Galle Test was the opening fixture of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, with both sides having fielded largely unchanged squads before the injury disruptions that followed.

Sri Lanka’s selectors have historically leaned on domestic performances to fill sudden squad gaps, a pattern repeated again with the call-ups of Mishara and Arachchige for this Test.

Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 in the first innings at Galle was a maiden Test century, an innings that laid the foundation for India’s eventual 165-run victory.

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar finished with a 10-wicket haul across the match at Galle, the standout bowling performance of the opening Test of the series.

The second Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, starting August 23, a venue with different conditions to the spin-friendly pitch used at Galle.

Photo by Price Zero, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0