IND vs SL: India's Predicted Playing XI Against Sri Lanka, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

By Arpit Sachdeva

Updated - 12 Mar 2022, 09:50 AM

Indian cricket team
Indian cricket team. Image: BCCI

Table of Contents

Under the leadership of a new Test captain, Rohit Sharma, India showcased an all-round performance in the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Mohali. India won the game by a huge margin of an innings and 222 runs and, thereby, took a 1-0 lead in the series.

The second Test is scheduled to be played from 12th to 16th March 2022. Heading into the next Test, India would be looking to continue the winning momentum and seal the series 2-0. Here’s a look at our predicted playing of the Indian Cricket Team for the second Test:

IND vs SL: India’s Predicted Playing XI Against Sri Lanka, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

  1. Openers: Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma

India, ICC World Test Championship
Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal[photo: Twitter]
In the absence of KL Rahul, India persisted with Mayank Agarwal to open the innings with Rohit Sharma in the first Test. However, he once again failed to convert the start into a big score. Agarwal scored 33 off 49 balls in the last Test match. Shubman Gill is waiting for his opportunity but the team management is likely to persist with Mayank Agarwal for the next Test as well.

  1. Middle-Order: Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant
Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari
Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari. Image: BCCI

The middle-order made valuable contributions with the bat in the last Test. In the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari batted at number three and also scored a valuable half-century.

He should continue to bat at three in the next Test as well, followed by Virat Kohli at number four. Rishabh Pant showcased a sensational display of stroke-play in the last Test match. He scored 96 runs in just 97 balls, a knock which was laced with 9 fours and 4 sixes. He might bat at number four in the next game as well.

  1. All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin. Image Credits: BCCI

After dishing out an all-round performance in the last Test, Ravindra Jadeja has moved to the number one position in the ICC rankings for all-rounders. Jadeja played a sensational knock of 175 runs in 228 balls in the last match and also picked 9 wickets with the ball.

Ashwin, on the other hand, returned with six wickets. Both of them are, once again, likely to be key to the team’s fortunes. In a big development, Axar Patel has been added to the squad after recovering fully from his injury. He is likely to replace Jayant Yadav in the playing XI.

  1. Bowlers: Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami (Image Credit: Twitter)

Both Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah asked some tough questions in the last Test match. Both combined to pick 5 wickets in the match. The next Test match will be played with pink-ball and the seamers are going to get more help with the new ball. One should expect both of them to make it into the playing XI for the second Test match.

Tagged:

Hanuma Vihari IND vs SL 2022 India National Cricket Team India vs Sri Lanka 2022 Jasprit Bumrah Mayank Agarwal Mohammed Shami Ravichandran Ashwin Ravindra Jadeja Rishabh Pant Rohit Sharma Shreyas Iyer Sri Lanka tour of India 2022 Virat Kohli

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