RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesThe India-Sri Lanka series shifts venues for its decider, moving from Galle's spin-friendly track to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which is a ground known for offering a very different kind of contest.
Batting first has historically paid off at this venue, with teams regularly posting big totals early in matches, which makes Wednesday's toss potentially decisive.
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Rain looms as a genuine concern too, with forecasts suggesting interruptions across all five days, while Colombo's heat is expected to sap energy from the bowling attacks. Spin has still had the upper hand recently, as spinners have picked up 45 wickets across the last three Tests here, compared to 35 for the pacers.
India arrive full of confidence following their commanding 165-run win in the series opener. Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, and Manav Suthar were the standout contributors in Galle. They will fancy their chances of completing a 2-0 sweep, a result that would also strengthen their push toward the 2027 World Test Championship final.
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Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test: Toss result & live updates
Day 1 updates
India: 287/4
Padikkal's marathon stay finally ended on 117 from 193 balls, bowled by Keshara Nuwantha in the over before the second new ball became available. It was a soft way to go; the left-hander pushed back rather than forward to a quicker, flatter delivery that gripped, turned past the outside edge and crashed into the off stump.
India: 259/3
Jadeja and Padikkal have picked up where Pant left off, ticking the score along without any alarms. The left-hander reached his second Test century in the space of a week, getting there off 168 balls with a single eased down to long-on, and celebrated by removing his helmet to acknowledge the dressing room.
He had moved into the nineties in style, backing away to hammer Jayasuriya through cover before flashing another cut through the same region. Sri Lanka's bowlers, already warned once for a slow over rate, are running out of ideas in the Colombo heat.
India: 207/3
Rishabh Pant has been forced to leave the pitch after being hit on his left forearm. The Indian wicketkeeper was visibly in pain as he walked off the pitch. Pant's misfortune with injuries continues.
Tea on day one - India: 187/3
Padikkal got a huge reprieve off the very first ball, but since then he has looked like a man on a mission. He has brought up his 50 with a well-timed drive wide of cover. It started as a call for a double before he looked up and saw it had raced away to the rope.
At the other end, Shubman Gill has notched up his half-century as well. But a reckless shot at a ball outside off stump and he has to walk back.
India: 121/2
So far so good for India. Gill and Padikkal have been playing risk-free cricket and yet managing to get the runs. The half-century partnership arrived off 96 balls. The pitch still has a bit of spice for the quicks, but they’ve hardly bowled. The sweltering heat in Colombo probably isn't helping.
Lunch on day one – India: 88/2
A couple of wickets down, a couple of catches down, and a helmet-butt from Jaiswal, and it was an eventful morning session. India are still scoring above 3.5 rpo, but Gill & Padikkal would be cautious when they come out in the second session.
India: 31/0
A watchful beginning by the home side. The Sri Lankan fast bowlers are posing tough questions up front, and both KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have had uncomfortable moments with the ball darting sharply back off the seam.
Toss: India won the toss and will bat first.
Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test: Predicted playing XI
India predicted playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka predicted playing XI: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando
Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test: Win probability
Team Win probability IND 60% SRI 40% Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test: Betting odds
India are the favourites to win this match at 1.22 on Dafa , while the odds for Sri Lanka to win are 4.30 at the moment.
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