India vs Sri Lanka
Image Source: Twitter

India and Sri Lanka are slated to play the second and final Test match of the ongoing Test series from 12th to 16th March 2022. India are currently leading 1-0 in the series, having won the first Test match by an innings and 222 runs.

They would be eying a clean sweep, while visitors would be hoping to make a strong comeback and, thereby, level the series. Here’s a look at how both teams shape up ahead of an important contest.

IND vs SL Match Preview-Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022, 2nd Test

India:

Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja. Image Credits: BCCI

India ticked all boxes in the first Test match of the series. They were brilliant in all departments of the game and managed to beat them by an innings and 222 runs. Riding on a sensational 175-run knock from Ravindra Jadeja, India managed to post a mammoth score of 574 runs in the first innings. In the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari came at number three and managed to score a valuable half-century. He is likely to be persisted at the number three position heading into the next game.

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Virat Kohli, playing his 100th Test match, once again, got out after getting set at the crease. He scored 45 runs in 76 balls. Rishabh Pant also exhibited some sensational ball-striking. He, unfortunately, got out 4 runs short of a hundred. Given how India performed with the bat, you don’t expect them to make any change in that department.

After posting such a huge score, India managed to bundle out Sri Lanka for 174 and 178 runs in the second and third innings respectively. Ravindra Jadeja stood out with the ball as well as he picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings, followed by four wickets in the third. Ravichandran Ashwin too gave him valuable support as managed to pick 6 wickets as well.

In a big boost for the Indian team, Axar Patel has fully recovered from injury and has been added to the squad. He is likely to make his way into the playing XI for the second Test match.

Sri Lanka:

India vs Sri Lanka
India vs Sri Lanka (Photo Credit: (Twitter)

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, wouldn’t be too happy with their performance in the first Test. The bowlers couldn’t pick wickets in a cluster and create pressure on the opposition. Lakmal, Fernando, and Embuldeniya all picked two wickets each but none of them could create pressure for a longer duration of time.

In a big development, Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the second Test due to injury. Sri Lanka would be tempted to play an extra spinner in the second Test and, thus, they might bring in Jayawickrama into the playing XI.

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Pathum Nissanka and Dickwella were the only batsmen who managed to score half-centuries in the first Test. The likes of Angelo Mathews, Asalanka, Karunaratne, and Dhananjaya de Silva also showed some resistance but failed to convert the starts into big scores.

Sri Lanka would be hoping that all these batsmen managed to stay a bit longer and play big knocks in the second innings. All these batsmen are quite talented and you don’t expect the team to make any change as far as the batting unit is concerned.