Galle: A gruelling trial by spin awaits Indian batters in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka beginning here on Saturday with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s standing as the country’s red-ball in-charge relying heavily on its outcome.
Under Gambhir, India have been a near-infallible white-ball unit as revealed by their rampaging title-winning runs in the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
But Test cricket paints a grim picture. Home whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa have put a hole in India’s World Test Championship ambitions.
India is without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, spinner Washington Sundar, and batter Sai Sudharsan.
India sits 5th in the World Test Championship standings and needs a strong run to contend for the final. Gambhir’s batting unit faces severe scrutiny after previous struggles against quality spin. Ravindra Jadeja leads the slow-bowling department alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar. Management faces a tight call in the middle order between Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel for subcontinental conditions.
