The number 1 ranked test team India will face Sri Lanka in the three-match test series starting from 16th November. Virat Kohli led side defeated the struggling Islanders 3-0 when they visited Sri Lanka this year.
India played dominating cricket during the 3 match test series. Sri Lanka will be looking to win their maiden test match in India. Both of them have played 19 test matches since 1982. Sri Lanka has either drawn the series or lost the series in India. It promises to be an exciting test series with good players on each side.
Here we look at the top 6 players which might decide the fate of India- Sri Lanka test series
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the dependable batsmen for India in test matches coming at number 3. In the tour of Sri Lanka played in July- August this year, Pujara was the leading runs scorer with 2 big centuries which helped the team to post massive totals.
If the wicket falls early, Pujara can play according to the situation and help India put pressure on the opposition. He will look to create an impact and prepare himself for the tough South Africa tour.
- Rangana Herath
Rangana Herath is one of the most experienced bowlers in the current Sri Lanka squad. He played a key role in 2-0 win over Pakistan. In the first test at Abu Dhabi, Herath showed his class by taking 11 wickets and 5 wickets in pink ball test match at Dubai.
Against the test series against India, Herath could not pick many wickets as the Indian batsmen played him with ease. He would be looking to create his magic in the upcoming test series and help the Sri Lankan team win their first test in India.
- Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin will make a comeback into the Indian squad after being dropped in the One-day international squad. He took 17 wickets on the tour to Sri Lanka. If the pitches help the spinners, then Ashwin would create magic and again show his class before tough South African series. Ashwin is one of the best spinners. His ability to turn the ball and deceive the batsmen makes him a quality bowler in Indian conditions.
- Dimuth Karunaratne
Dimuth Karunaratne the left-handed batsman played a key role in 2-0 win over Pakistan. He opened the innings and looked solid in his technique. In the UAE, he scored 93 at Abu Dhabi and 196 in the second test at Dubai which helped Sri Lanka to post competitive totals. In the test series against India, Karunaratne played with good technique. If Sri Lanka has to post competitive totals, Karunaratne needs give the visitors a solid start in order to trouble the Indian team.
Mohammed Shami will be looking to bowl with good pace in the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka. He was rested for the limited overs version series against Australia and New Zealand. The Indian pace bowler played in one Ranji Trophy for Bengal against Himachal Pradesh.
He took 8 wickets in that match. In the test series against Sri Lanka played in July- August, Shami bowled with good pace and troubled Sri Lankan batsmen. He would play a key role to take wickets with the new ball and also create pressure on the visitors batting line up with the old ball.
- Angelo Mathews
Angelo Mathews will be making a comeback in Sri Lankan test squad after missing test series against Pakistan due to an injury. He is one of the experienced batsmen who can create an impact with his aggressive batting. In the test series against India played in Sri Lanka, Mathews got starts but was not able to convert starts into big scores. He made 2 fifties during the 3 match test series.
Mathews will play an important role in the upcoming test series against India if Sri Lanka is to upset the inform Indian team.