Daijiworld Media Network - Colombo

Colombo, Aug 23: India will look to seal a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka when the two sides meet in the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday, with captain Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal expected to play key roles with the bat.

India head into the Test with a 1-0 lead after registering a commanding 165-run victory in the opening match at Galle. The win provided a major boost to Gill's side after a difficult period in overseas Test cricket and put India in a strong position to secure their first Test series triumph outside the country in three years.

India's last overseas Test series victory came against the West Indies in July 2023. Since then, the team lost a series in Australia and shared series against South Africa and England away from home. India also suffered home-series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa, making the victory in Galle particularly significant for the new-look side under Gill.

While India's bowling attack produced the goods in Galle, with young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar making a major impact, the team will want greater contributions from its top order in Colombo.

Suthar, playing only his second Test, claimed 10 wickets in the match, including six in the second innings, as India completed their 165-run win. Gill subsequently praised the youngster as a potential long-term asset for Indian cricket.

The spotlight, however, will be firmly on Gill and Jaiswal. Both batters had relatively quiet outings in the first Test and will be eager to make a substantial contribution in the series finale.

Gill, who is leading India in his first full overseas Test campaign, has already shown his ability to handle the responsibility of captaincy, but a significant score from the top order would further strengthen his team's position.

Jaiswal, meanwhile, remains one of India's most important Test openers. His ability to attack spin and put pressure on bowlers could prove crucial on a Colombo surface where Sri Lanka are expected to rely heavily on their spinners.

India's middle order received a major boost in Galle from Devdutt Padikkal, who stepped in after Sai Sudharsan's injury. Padikkal struck an impressive 167 in the first innings and followed it with 44 in the second, earning Player of the Match honours and strengthening his case for a permanent position at No. 3.

The bowling department has also given India plenty of confidence. Alongside Suthar, the Indian attack showed the ability to exploit Sri Lanka's batting weaknesses and keep pressure on the hosts across both innings.

One selection question surrounds Kuldeep Yadav, whose place in the playing XI is under scrutiny after India's strong performance in Galle. Reports indicate that India could consider changes to the spin combination depending on the conditions at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be desperate to respond after their heavy defeat in Galle. The hosts need substantially better batting performances and will hope their spinners can exert greater influence in Colombo.

The second Test also carries significance for the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. India will be looking to maximise their points from the two-Test series and build momentum early in the cycle. The series is India's first WTC assignment since their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa last year.

The match is scheduled to begin at 10 am local time on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. India lead the two-Test series 1-0 and need only a draw to secure the series, but Gill's side will be aiming for another comprehensive performance and a clean sweep.