India’s 600th Test: Rain interruptions, three spinners and toss could shape Galle clash

At one point during India’s afternoon practice session in Galle ahead of the first Test, dark clouds hung low over the fort, a patch of deep blue sky stretched towards the sea, and a fine drizzle even as the sunshine was sharp enough to require a slathering of sunscreen. It’s going to be that sort of Test match where interruptions play as much of a part as challenging passages of play.

India need a strong batting performance to regain belief in their talent, skill and ability, but the biggest challenge to this will be modulating focus and concentration. For batsmen, nothing is worse than coming off for a drizzle, sitting with pads and the rest of their gear on, and going out again minutes later. Momentum is broken; you never feel well set, and it feels like there’s so much to lose and so little chance of building something substantial.

For the bowlers, rain interruptions mean that even with the most efficient covering of the field of play — and no country in the world does this better than Sri Lanka — the ball will get wet each time it’s hit to the boundary. This makes it difficult for the slow bowlers to grip the ball and for fielders to maintain one side shiny and other dry, essential for swing bowling of all kinds.

While India have the historical record in their favour — won nine and lost seven Tests in Sri Lanka — they are by no means favourites. A lot will ride on the toss, because this Galle pitch appears better for batting than in recent times. Cashing in on the first innings will be vital if turn does play a dramatic part in the ragged end of the Test.

There’s also the unusual situation in which Sri Lanka do not desperately need to win this series, in the context of the World Test Championship. Even two drawn games will hold them in good stead, and this could, even unconsciously, lead to a defensive mindset, which is always dangerous. India are desperate for wins and, in that process, must guard against overthinking their plans.

3 SPINNERS, 2 PACERS

From the Indian camp’s training session, it appeared that the playing eleven was more or less decided. Devdutt Padikkal is set for No. 3 while Dhruv Jurel down the order ensures that Sarfaraz Khan has to bide his time India are set to play three left-arm spinners — Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar. Kuldeep turns the ball both ways, and Suthar adds a bit with the bat at No. 8. This means that there is room only for one of Prasidh Krishna or Gurnoor Brar, and Shubman Gill seemed to be leaning towards experience.

“We have seen how good Gurnoor is with the old ball when nothing is happening. You need that bit of extra pace, extra bounce. He’s obviously very tall as well,” said Gill, who is clearly tempted to hand Brar a Test debut. “But I think Prasidh recently has been bowling the best that I have ever seen him bowl in red-ball cricket.”

The decision to play only two quicks is a tricky one: if Sri Lanka bat first and India are unlucky with an injury to one of their quick men, the game could well be decided then and there. A final call will be taken on match morning, but it’s hard to see any surprises. Gill’s assessment of the task at hand was precise.

“The big similarity between playing in India and Sri Lanka, you know, spinners play a huge role. Your spinners and your fast bowlers, when the ball gets old, they play a huge role,” said Gill. “So, if you are playing in Bombay, for example, I think it is a little bit closer to playing here where we have seen the spinners get good bounce.”

Gill also said that the ground being open, not boxed in by giant concrete stands, would play a part. “The wind sometimes plays a crucial part. As a batsman, even in team meetings we talk about how if you want to take on a spinner, you have to see if the wind is with you or against you,” said Gill. “You have to see how you can use those conditions in your favour rather than working against them.”

A lot is hanging in the balance as Gill leads India out in their 600th Test. And even which way the wind blows could have a say.