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Former Sri Lankan batter Hashan Tillakaratne suggested that Shubman Gill and the India National Cricket Team not take the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka lightly, as the matches will be on Sri Lankan soil.
The pitches on the island nation are considered mostly favorable for the spinners. Batters with proper skills, techniques, and temperament will not be able to survive on these spinning tracks. Shubman Gill is equipped with all the tools.
The series against Sri Lanka will be the 'real test' for Shubman Gill
Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill has been in tremendous form in the white-ball format since he was appointed as the leader of the team. But his experience in playing Tests in Sri Lanka is very limited.
Hashan Tillakaratne told RevSportz in a recent interview, ahead of the first match of the India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, starting on August 15, that the upcoming two matches in the Whites will be the real Test for Shubman Gill, whose batting average in the format is currently 82.76 with six centuries in nine matches as the captain of the Men in Blue.
"I love watching him bat. He is technically very sound and plays beautifully on good batting tracks. This series will be a real test for him on turning pitches. It will be interesting to see how he performs in these conditions," the former Sri Lankan cricketer said.
Gill, who made his Test debut for India in 2020, has not faced Sri Lanka in a Test match yet. The upcoming series will be his first assignment in the format against the nation. Overall, the top-order batter's batting average in the red-ball format is 44.31, and his average in Asia is 47.31.
But in Bangladesh, where the spinners get assistance from the track, Shubman Gill's batting average is now only 39.25. So it will be interesting to see how the right-handed batter could handle the spinners of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.
The former Sri Lankan cricketer further mentioned in the interview that the hosts will benefit from the absence of the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah is ruled out of the series because of a knee injury in his left leg.
"Jasprit Bumrah's absence gives Sri Lanka an advantage": Hashan Tillakaratne
Auqib Nabi, the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, who helped Jammu and Kashmir to win the trophy, is included in the team as the replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. In a sense of warning, Tillakaratne also mentioned that the home team batters will make mistakes if they take the Indian players lightly.
"It’s certainly good news for Sri Lanka because we all know how skillful Bumrah is. I think he is one of the best bowlers in world cricket today. His absence gives Sri Lanka an advantage. That said, we cannot take India lightly. They still have some excellent players,"
Ravindra Jadeja is expected to be effective against Sri Lanka
Tillakaratne added. The veteran expressed that the Indian spinner can be equally effective on the Sri Lankan surfaces, as the visitors have a quality spinner like Ravindra Jadeja.
"We cannot take India’s spinners lightly. Jadeja, in particular, can be very effective in Sri Lankan conditions because of his pace, variations and vast experience," the former batter mentioned.
