Buoyant India eye series sweep against injury-hit Sri Lanka

India will go all out for a 2-0 series sweep against injury-depleted Sri Lanka to revive their World Test Championship (WTC) hopes when the second and final test begins in Colombo on Sunday.

Shubman Gill and his team are fifth in the ‌standings and ⁠victory in ⁠Colombo would inject fresh momentum into their bid to reach the ​top two and qualify for their third WTC final.

The touring side, who ​won the opening test in Galle by 165 runs, appear to have the means to achieve that goal.


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Devdutt Padikkal made a match-winning hundred in Galle to ⁠suggest he ‌could be the answer to India's quest for a dependable number three.

Drafted into the squad as an ⁠injury replacement for Sai Sudharsan, Padikkal's elegant ​hundred came in only his third test.

India have also unearthed a promising spinner in Manav Suthar who took 10 wickets in Galle.

"He is somebody who is very accurate," India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule told reporters.

"His trajectories are just getting better and better. He puts in ‌a lot on the ball, the revs are good and he is somebody who is like ​a banker ​for us, consistently ⁠being in the lengths which we want to."

The mood is completely different in the rival camp.

Sri Lanka's bid to level the series suffered a major setback after batters Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out of the final test.

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Uncapped batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige have been drafted into the squad.