Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first as India began their opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium on Saturday.
India’s playing XI features Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Gill as captain, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka named Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando in their XI.
Gill’s participation had been in doubt after he sustained a finger injury during training in Colombo, but he recovered sufficiently to lead the side onto the field.
Play began at 10:00 am IST, with India looking to put runs on the board on a fresh pitch at the start of a two-match series.
The Test also marks a landmark occasion for the venue, being the 50th Test match staged at the Galle International Stadium.
India’s line-up for the Test includes Dhruv Jurel and Manav Suthar, both part of a young squad being built around Gill’s captaincy as India transitions its Test leadership.
Sri Lanka’s playing XI is led by Dhananjaya de Silva, with wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and spinner Prabath Jayasuriya among the key figures named in the home side’s line-up.
Gill’s finger injury, sustained during a training session in Colombo before the tour’s warm-up match, had put his availability for the Test series in doubt, though he was cleared to lead the side after a gradual return to batting practice.
This is the two-match series opener, with the second and final Test to follow, as Sri Lanka and India resume Test cricket ties in what is a milestone 50th Test staged at the Galle International Stadium.
Galle International Stadium, set beside the historic Galle Fort on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, is regarded as one of the most picturesque Test venues in world cricket and has traditionally offered assistance to spinners as matches progress.
Photo by Price Zero, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
