India won the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle by 165 runs, but that does not mean they will necessarily go with the same playing XI for the second Test in Colombo.
The India playing XI for 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka could have one interesting change. Kuldeep Yadav’s place appears to be under serious pressure, with uncapped off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain emerging as a strong contender to make his Test debut.
The second and final Test starts at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo on August 23.
Normally, you would not expect a team to make a major change to its spin combination after winning a Test so comfortably. But India’s training sessions in Colombo are giving some strong indications that the team management is at least considering something different.
And Kuldeep could be the player to miss out.
Kuldeep Yadav Misses Two Training Sessions in Colombo
The biggest reason behind the speculation is what has happened during India’s practice sessions.
Kuldeep stayed away from two successive training sessions ahead of the Colombo Test.
The official explanation from the Indian camp was that the spinner had been given rest. So, it is important to make one thing clear: Kuldeep’s absence from training does not officially confirm that he has been dropped.
But when you look at everything happening around Saransh Jain at the same time, the situation becomes interesting.
Jain has been heavily involved in training.
He has bowled long spells, worked on his batting, inspected the surface and spent considerable time discussing his bowling with India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule.
That is why the possibility of Saransh making his Test debut cannot be ignored.
Saransh Jain Getting Special Attention Before Colombo Test
Saransh’s preparation has been one of the most interesting things to come out of India’s training sessions.
The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder was seen bowling for an extended period and having detailed conversations with Bahutule.
This becomes more significant because India have a clear decision to make over their spin combination.
Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar appear difficult to leave out after the Galle Test. Suthar was outstanding in the series opener and finished with a 10-wicket match haul.
That potentially leaves one spot between Kuldeep and Saransh.
Kuldeep played in Galle but managed only one wicket. India still won comfortably, but he was not among their most effective bowlers.
Saransh, meanwhile, gives the team a completely different option.
Why Saransh Jain Could Replace Kuldeep Yadav
There are cricketing reasons behind this possible change as well.
The first is batting depth.
Saransh is not simply an off-spinner. He is a genuine lower-order batting option and has more than 2,000 runs in first-class cricket.
India already have plenty of batting depth with Ravindra Jadeja, but adding Saransh could strengthen that area even further.
The second reason is variety.
Kuldeep is a left-arm wrist-spinner. Jadeja and Manav Suthar are also left-arm spin options, although they are very different types of bowlers.
Saransh provides right-arm off-spin.
Against a Sri Lankan batting line-up containing several left-handed options, having an off-spinner could give Shubman Gill another tactical weapon.
So, from the team management’s point of view, the argument could be simple: Saransh adds batting depth and gives the spin attack a different angle.
Is Kuldeep Yadav Slowly Being Sidelined?
This is where the discussion becomes bigger than just one Test.
Kuldeep’s position across formats has become increasingly interesting.
He did not play a single match during India’s recent white-ball tour of England, despite being part of the touring group.
His opportunities in Test cricket have also not been consistent.
Kuldeep was backed for the Galle Test and India went with three spinners, but he took only one wicket while Manav Suthar dominated Sri Lanka.
Now, despite India winning the Test by 165 runs, Kuldeep could again find himself outside the playing XI.
If Saransh does replace him in Colombo, questions will naturally be asked about where Kuldeep currently stands in Gautam Gambhir’s plans.
There was a time when Kuldeep was almost an automatic third-spinner option for India on turning tracks.
That position no longer looks as secure.
But Is Dropping Kuldeep the Right Decision?
This is where I have some doubts.
Saransh can bat and his off-spin provides variety. There are genuine cricketing reasons to consider him.
But Kuldeep remains a wicket-taking bowler.
A wrist-spinner can create wickets even when the pitch is not offering huge turn because of the variations, dip and change of angles he brings.
One quiet Test should not automatically make him ineffective.
India won convincingly in Galle, and Kuldeep was part of that combination. So changing a winning attack also carries some risk.
At the same time, if the Colombo pitch and Sri Lanka’s batting combination favour an off-spinner, the management may feel this is the right opportunity to give Saransh his debut.
That is what makes this selection call so interesting.
Saransh Jain Has Been Waiting for This Opportunity
Saransh received his maiden Test call-up for this Sri Lanka series after impressing in domestic cricket and for India A.
The experienced Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has taken more than 180 first-class wickets and scored more than 2,000 runs.
He also impressed during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka, showing that he can contribute with both bat and ball in these conditions.
That makes him a useful option for India.
This is not simply about replacing one spinner with another. If India pick Saransh, they will effectively be adding another all-round option to their lower order.
His ability to bowl off-spin could become particularly useful against Sri Lanka’s left-handed batters.
Colombo Test Extremely Important for India’s WTC Campaign
India may already be 1-0 ahead, but they cannot afford to relax in Colombo.
Every victory matters in the World Test Championship.
India’s WTC position means they need to keep collecting maximum points whenever possible, particularly before more difficult assignments later in the cycle.
The Colombo Test is therefore not simply about winning the series.
India have an opportunity to complete a 2-0 sweep and strengthen their position in the WTC race.
That could explain why the management is considering changing the combination despite such a convincing victory in Galle.
If they believe Saransh gives them a better match-up against Sri Lanka’s batting order, they may not hesitate to make the change.
India Predicted Playing XI for 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka
Based on the combination India used in Galle and the indications from the Colombo training sessions, this could be India’s playing XI:
India Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
If this combination is selected, India would make only one change.
Saransh Jain IN
Kuldeep Yadav OUT
However, this remains a predicted XI based on the latest training indications. India have not officially confirmed their final combination.