Team India will enter the field with their chin high when they take on Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the ongoing two-match series, starting March 12 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The second Test will be a Day-Night affair to be played with pink balls, and the Rohit Sharma-led side will aim to register another triumph to finish the home season on a dominating note. Notably, the hosts had whitewashed Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series, followed by a win in the first Test held in Mohali by an innings and 222 runs.
It would be interesting to see whether there will be any change in the playing XI as captains most likely don’t alter the winning combination. However, Indian vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah gave hints regarding one change the home team will make for the pink-ball Test.
Bumrah said that the left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who was recently included in the squad for the second Test, brings all three dimensions to the table and jumps straight back into the side.
“Axar Patel has added a lot of value whenever he has played, has contributed a lot and offers a lot in all departments,” Bumrah told reporters during the pre-match presser on Friday.
“He was injured, but he jumps straight back in when he’s fit. We’ll discuss our combination, but of course, he’s valuable,” he added.
Notably, both India and Sri Lanka share equal records for Day-Night Test matches. India have played three Pink-Ball Tests so far – in Kolkata, Adelaide and Ahmedabad – winning two and losing one. Similarly, Sri Lanka have also played three Day-Night Tests – in Dubai, Bridgetown and Brisbane – registering victories in two games and losing one.
Meanwhile, Bumrah admitted they (India) are still new in this format (Pink-Ball Tests) and learning from their games and making adjustments accordingly.
“There are mental changes you have to make. We are not used to catching the pink ball, bowling with the pink ball, and as batters, playing against the pink ball. Whatever little games we’ve played, we’re trying to get feedback from those games – certain ways the ball behaves under the lights and how to adjust to you. We’re still very new in this format,” explained Bumrah.
