The Indian team will leave for Sri Lanka on 19th July 2017 for the three match test series against Sri Lanka starting from 26th July at Galle. Last time, when the Indian team visited Sri Lanka in 2015, Virat Kohli captained for the first full-fledged test series and won it by 2-1 after losing the first test.
India is the number 1 ranked side in test matches and will be looking to dominate Sri Lanka. It is going to be excellent series between two top Asian teams.
Here we look at the squad analysis of the test team touring Sri Lanka:
Openers
The Indian team has 3 openers. KL Rahul will be making a comeback into the Indian test team after injuring his shoulder. In the test series against Australia at home, he played with positive intent handling the new ball and also the old ball scoring 6 half centuries during the four match test series. When he went to Sri Lanka last time, he did not have a great series scoring just 1 century in 3 match test series. KL Rahul will be eager to perform well while opening in Sri Lanka.
Shikhar Dhawan has been named as the replacement for injured Murali Vijay. He did not play the recently concluded test series against Australia at home. His form has been great in the ODI format. During the previous tour to Sri Lanka, Dhawan scored a century in the first innings at Galle. In the next 2 test matches, he did not play. With Shikhar Dhawan in form, he would be looking to continue his good form in test matches also.
Abhinav Mukund is the third opener for this tour. He came back into the Indian team for Australia home series and played only 1 match. If one of them gets injured, then Mukund might get his chance to play in the test series that has been doing well for Tamil Nadu in the domestic circuit.
Middle Order
Cheteshwar Pujara the most reliable batsmen for India in test matches come at number 3 and plays according to the situation. In the home test series against Australia, he was in excellent form scoring important 92 runs during the second innings of the second test at Bengaluru, also scored brilliant 245 in first innings of the Ranchi test. During the 2015 test series in Sri Lanka, played match winning knocks while opening in conditions which helped fast bowlers. He played few county matches and would be eager continue his brilliant form in test matches.
The captain Virat Kohli has become one of best batsmen in test matches scored 3 double centuries in the home season. His form in the last series against Australia that took place in 2017. During the 2015 tour to Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli scored 1 century and 1 half century. He would be looking to show his class with the bat and do well with his captaincy.
Ajiyanka Rahane one of the best batsmen in test cricket for India during the last 2 years has not been in great form during the home test series against Australia this year. During 2015 tour of Sri Lanka, Rahane scored a brilliant 126 in the 2nd innings of the second test which helped India to win the test match. His ability to play with technique makes him a good test batsman. With upcoming test series coming up, he would be looking to provide stability in the middle order.
Rohit Sharma will be making a comeback into the test team. He did not play in the home series against Australia due to an injury. The two-time double centurion in ODI format has not made a place in the test squad. During the last test series in 2015, Rohit Sharma scored 2 half centuries and has been named as a replacement for Karun Nair. The right handed batsmen would be looking to impress the selectors with good performances.
Wriddhiman Saha has improved his batting during the home test series against Australia. Coming at number 7, the wicketkeeper batsmen have done well adding crucial runs which have given India huge scores. His keeping is a great thing for team India. He also did well in the previous test tour to Sri Lanka scoring 2 half centuries and 1 not out innings.
All- rounders
Hardik Pandya has been included in the test squad. He has done well for India in the ODI and T20 format. Pandya would be a great thing if team India decides goes with 2 pacers and 2 spinners including him.
The spin twin Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin also provide a much-needed boost for team India. Ravichandran Ashwin has scored 4 centuries and 10 half centuries. He comes ahead of Saha and plays important knocks. Ravindra Jadeja also has improved as a batsman scoring runs coming at 8. Both Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin will play an important role in the test series against Sri Lanka.
Spinners
(Image credit: Danish Siddiqui / Reuters)
Ravichandran Ashwin is the main spinner for team India in test format. He has been in excellent form during the home season taking 79 wickets. In the home test series against Australia held this year, Ashwin took 21 wickets in the four test matches. During the previous test tour to Sri Lanka, Ashwin bowled with great control taking 21 wickets in 3 matches and was named a man of the series. He would like to continue his good form in test matches as he became the quickest to take 250 wickets in test matches.
© Associated Press
Ravindra Jadeja the number 1 ranked bowler in test matches was in great form during the home test series. He picked a total of 25 wickets in the series which helped India to win the series by 2-1. In the previous test tour, Jadeja was not a part of the squad. He and Ravichandran Ashwin will be eager to put pressure on the Sri Lanka batsmen.
Kuldeep Yadav the third spinner in the team made his test debut during the 4th test against Australia in Dharamshala and was impressive taking 4 wickets. If the pitches help the spinners, Kuldeep Yadav might be included in the playing XI.
Pacers
Umesh Yadav has improved as a pace bowler with his speed and accuracy. He played all the 13 test matches in the home season. In the test series against Australia, he took 13 wickets and surprised the Australian batsmen with his pace and bounce. During the 2015 test series against Sri Lanka, Yadav picked 5 wickets in 2 test matches. He would be eager to improve his record in the 2017 test series.
Ishant Sharma the most experienced bowler in the current Indian squad bowled well during the home test series against Australia. He played 3 test matches and took 3 wickets. In the previous test tour to Sri Lanka, he bowled with aggression.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar the third pace bowler has done well for team India in the chances he got during the test series against Australia. He has the ability to swing the ball and troubled the batsmen. In this tour to Sri Lanka, if India wants to go with 3 pacers, Kumar would be an ideal choice.
Mohammed Shami would be making a comeback into the test squad. He bowls with pace and troubles the opposition batsmen with swing. He did not play the previous test series against Australia.