On a sweltering Saturday afternoon, the SSC offered two very different glimpses of how the two teams were preparing for the series decider. Sri Lanka were already into their training routine, with the coaching staff working closely with the players as they fine-tuned their preparations for the Test beginning on August 23. Head coach Gary Kirsten, meanwhile, took only a brief look at the pitch before moving on.
Around an hour later, the Indian team arrived, and the mood around the surface was noticeably different. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and captain Shubman Gill gathered around the pitch for an extended discussion. By now, this has almost become a familiar ritual whenever India arrive at a Test venue — a careful examination of the surface, repeated assessments and plenty of conversation as Gill and the coaching staff try to understand what the wicket might offer.
For a visiting side, reading the conditions is an important part of Test cricket. At the SSC, that process began long before the first ball was bowled. Given India’s position in the World Test Championship points table, it becomes even more important for Gill and company. Although they have won the Galle Test, they still have a long road ahead to the Oval, where the WTC final will be played.
As the Indian coaches say: one Test at a time.
The caravan of the India-Sri Lanka Test series has moved to Colombo. The setting will be different. From picturesque Galle, the teams now move to the heart of Colombo, where the SSC ground is also the headquarters of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Gambhir was at his vocal best at the pre-match press conference, where he said:
“The entire focus is about looking forward to the next five days and, more importantly, looking at every session and every hour as well,” Gambhir said on the eve of the match. “You don’t control what’s going to happen over the next five days. You can only control what you can control in that first session and that one particular hour.”
India have looked very focused right from their first training session at the NCC, and that is why they got the desired result in Galle.
It is not the breeze but the questions that have followed Team India from Galle to Colombo. With Kuldeep Yadav picking up only one wicket, his position has come under scrutiny. After Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva confirmed that Kamil Mishara will make his debut, meaning another left-hander will be added to the playing XI, Gambhir was seen in conversation with Saransh Jain, who looks set for his maiden international appearance at the SSC.
Saransh’s addition would mean India would have batting depth down to No. 9, which is a scary prospect given the size of the SSC and the opposition’s form. Apart from that one change, there is not expected to be much tinkering with the winning combination.
Sri Lanka are expected to make at least a couple of changes. Mishara will open, Pasindu Sooriyabandara is likely to bat at No. 3, and then a certain Vishwa Fernando could come in for Lahiru Kumara.
For both teams, battling the hot and humid conditions in Colombo over the coming days will be a challenge.
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