Who Will Partner Siraj in India vs Sri Lanka Test?

The Indian cricket team has been preparing for their upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with the first match set to begin on August 15 in Galle. The team recently played a three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, which they won by six wickets, giving them valuable experience in Lankan conditions.

However, the team has faced some challenges before arriving in Colombo. Washington Sundar is recovering from a hamstring injury at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and will miss the first Test. Jasprit Bumrah, another key player, has been ruled out of the entire series. This leaves Mohammed Siraj as the leading fast bowler for the Tests.

India is expected to field three spinners and two pacers in the first Test due to Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly conditions. Manav Suthar could make his Test debut, while Shubman Gill will likely bat at number three after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out.

The main question is who will bowl with Siraj in the first innings. The options are Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Prasidh Krishna. Nabi’s recent performance makes him less likely to be chosen, leaving Brar and Krishna as the top contenders.

Krishna, a more experienced Test cricketer with 25 wickets in seven Tests, is seen as a strong candidate due to his seniority. However, he struggles with leaking runs, as seen in the warm-up game where he took only one wicket while giving away nearly 70 runs.

On the other hand, Brar, who made his Test debut against Afghanistan earlier this year, offers raw pace and bounce. He was successful during India A’s unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A, taking 10 wickets in the second game, including a six-wicket haul.

While both Brar and Krishna have their strengths and weaknesses, the decision on who will partner Siraj remains to be seen.