Gill wins toss, elects to bat in Colombo Test

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The visitors, holding an unassailable 1-0 series lead after a 165-run victory in Galle, handed a Test debut to spin-bowling allrounder Saransh Jain, who replaced the ill Kuldeep Yadav. Sri Lanka, facing a must-win match to level the series, also fielded two debutants in batters Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooryabandara.

Gill confirmed at the toss that Kuldeep was unavailable due to a viral infection. The Board of Control for Cricket in India later issued a medical update stating the left-arm wristspinner had not fully recovered but remained eligible to play as a concussion substitute if required. In his place, the 28-year-old Saransh Jain, a left-arm spinner with 188 first-class wickets, received his maiden Test cap from senior allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. His inclusion gives India three spin-bowling options alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar.

For Sri Lanka, the changes were necessitated by a significant injury crisis. Wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal remains unavailable under concussion protocols after being...