SL vs IND: India's strongest playing XI for 2nd Test against Sri Lanka - Predicted
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The second SL vs IND Test will kickstart from the 23rd of August in Colombo.
India will enter the second and final Test against Sri Lanka with sheer confidence after securing a commanding 165-run victory in Galle. The win gave the Shubman Gill-led side a 1-0 lead in the series and also provided a major boost to their ICC World Test (WTC) 2025-27 campaign.
The second Test between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on the 23rd of August at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, where India will look to register a clean sweep to enhance their chances for a top spot finish in the WTC points table.
The first Test at Galle already marked several outstanding individual performances. Manav Suthar and Devdutt Padikkal strengthened their case with some stunning performances.
Hence, the Indian team management and captain, Shubman Gill, will have a settled squad when they arrive in Colombo, with chances of a minor change, with Saransh Jain contending for a spot against Kuldeep Yadav, who had an ordinary outing in Galle.
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On that note, let’s take a look at India’s probable XI for second SL vs IND Test.
India’s probable playing XI for the SL vs IND 2nd Test in Colombo
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1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
The Indian left-handed batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, should retain his place at the top of the order despite a mixed outing in the first Test. Jaiswal will be aiming to fetch more runs in the second Test with his aggressive approach after he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings of the Galle Test.
2. KL Rahul
KL Rahul is India’s most experienced batter in the lineup and has shown astounding ability to adapt according to the situation. Rahul scored 82 in the first innings at Galle and then backed it with a 35 in the second innings, making him irreplaceable at the top of the Indian batting order.
3. Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden century in the last game and was also awarded the Player of the Match for his 211 runs across the two innings of the Galle Test. Hence, Padikkal is an automatic selection, especially after his clear ability to handle spin on the tricky tracks of the subcontinent.
4. Shubman Gill (C)
The Indian captain will continue to lead the side at No.4. Beyond his captaincy, Gill is India’s best batter in this ICC WTC cycle and provides acute stability to the middle order.
5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
The Indian wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, has portrayed his stunning skill in taking down bowlers on any pitch across the globe. Having set a new benchmark in modern-day Test cricket, Pant will continue to hold on to his place in the Indian playing XI. He also slammed a vital fifty for India in second innings, and helped India post big target.
6. Ravindra Jadeja
The veteran Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, is India’s biggest asset in recent times. His all-round contributions with both bat and ball make him an indispensable choice in the Indian Test side.
7. Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel has been an impressive choice for the Indian middle order. Despite several doubts raised over his selection due to the presence of Sarfaraz Khan in the Indian squad, Jurel proved why he is a useful batting option lower down the order with a half-century in the first innings of the first Test.
8. Manav Suthar
After what Manav Suthar produced in the first Test at Galle International Stadium, there is no question about Suthar’s selection for the second Test in Colombo. He is expected to be one of India’s biggest weapons in the second Test.
9. Saransh Jain
The only predicted change to India’s playing XI could see Saransh Jain make his Test debut for India. The experienced spinner has 181 first-class wickets and 2223 runs in domestic cricket, thus making him a good fit in India’s all-rounder dynamic. He might replace Kuldeep Yadav, who had a poor outing in Galle.
10. Mohammed Siraj
With Jasprit Bumrah being rested for the SL vs IND Test series, Mohammed Siraj is the spearhead of India’s pace attack. The highest wicket-taker for India in this WTC is truly a choice that cannot be ignored in any of the games.
11. Prasidh Krishna
With many fast bowlers contending for the spot of second pace bowling option in the Indian Test side, Prasidh Krishna has had a slight upper hand with his wicket-taking prowess. He also finished the first Test with three wickets for India at Galle.
Who was the POTM of the SL vs IND 1st Test?
Devdutt Padikkal was the player of the match for his magnificent 211-runs across the two innings of the match.
Can India surpass Bangladesh in WTC points table with a win in Colombo?
India’s chances of surpassing Bangladesh will depend not only on India’s victory in Colombo but also Bangladesh’s defeat against Australia.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.