Probable playing XI: India-Sri Lanka 1st Test
What's the story
Sri Lanka are set to face India in a three-match Test series beginning from 16th November. This is Sri Lanka's first tour of India for a Test series in eight long years. With an innings loss rate of 80% against men in blue in India, Sri Lanka's tour looks like a lop-sided battle. Let us see how both the sides could line up.
Do you know?
Sri Lankan team has never won a Test in India
Sri Lanka have played 17 Tests in India, losing 10 of them and drawing 7. Eight out of the ten losses, they have lost by an innings.
Return of Ashwin, Jadeja
India's probable XI
With Hardik Panya being rested for the Sri Lanka tour, we could see the comeback of all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. They were both part of the Indian test side against Sri Lanka in August. Probable XI - Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami.
Reliant on Herath
Sri Lanka's probable XI
With an inexperienced pace attack, the Lankan side will be reliant on Rangana Herath. They could go with four bowlers and an all-rounder strategy as against five bowlers option which they deployed during recent Test win against Pakistan. Possible line up- Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan.
Do you know?
Only these players are a constant from 2009 tour
Murali Vijay, Ishant Sharma for India, and Rangana Herath, Angelo Matthews for Sri Lanka, are the only players from current squads who were part of the 2009 Sri Lanka tour of India.