The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI is becoming clearer ahead of the Colombo Test, but the official teams will not be confirmed until the toss. India enter the second match with a 1-0 lead after winning in Galle by 165 runs, while Sri Lanka have to deal with the confirmed absences of Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal. Pathum Nissanka also remains unavailable after wrist surgery. For India, the main selection question is whether Saransh Jain replaces Kuldeep Yadav after India’s dominant first-Test performance.
The second Test is scheduled for August 23-27, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. It is the final match of the two-Test series and forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI: Latest Selection Status
The most important point before looking at the predicted teams is the difference between probable and confirmed.
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI is still provisional on both sides as of August 20. India have a settled core, but current reports indicate that the management is considering a tactical change involving Saransh Jain and Kuldeep Yadav. Sri Lanka has less flexibility because injuries and concussion have removed important batting options.
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Match details
| Detail | Information |
| Match | Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test |
| Dates | August 23-27, 2026 |
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo |
| Series | India lead 1-0 |
| First Test result | India won by 165 runs |
| Competition | ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 |
| Official XI | Confirmed at the toss |
The first Test ended with India defending a target of 372 and bowling Sri Lanka out for 206. India had earlier made 462 and 193, while Sri Lanka scored 284 in their first innings.
For readers tracking the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI, the Galle result is important because it gives India a strong performance-based reason to retain most of their team.
Why India May Make Only One Major Change
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI is unlikely to be radically different from the team that won in Galle.
India’s batting unit produced enough runs, the bowling attack took 20 wickets, and the three-spinner approach worked on a surface offering assistance. Manav Suthar finished with 10 wickets, while Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Match after scoring 167 and 44.
That makes continuity the logical starting point.
However, continuity does not necessarily mean an identical XI. The selectors now have a specific tactical option in Saransh Jain, whose off-spin and batting could alter India’s balance without weakening the overall spin attack.
Padikkal has strengthened his No. 3 case.
Devdutt Padikkal is one of the safest names in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI prediction.
He entered the first Test after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the series because of a right-toe stress reaction. The BCCI named Sarfaraz Khan as Sudharsan’s replacement, but Padikkal ultimately took the No. 3 position in Galle.
Padikkal responded with 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second. His combined 211 runs made him Player of the Match and gave India compelling evidence to retain him.
There is therefore no strong selection argument for removing him before Colombo.
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Suthar has earned another opportunity.
Manav Suthar is another obvious selection in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI.
The left-arm spinner took 4/76 in Sri Lanka’s first innings and 6/55 in the second, finishing with 10 wickets for the match. It was only his second Test, making the performance even more significant.
India could theoretically change their spin combination, but dropping Suthar immediately after a match-winning performance would require a very specific tactical reason.
Rahul’s fitness should be monitored, not overstated
KL Rahul retired hurt on 77 in India’s first innings because of cramps, but he returned and eventually scored 82. The episode therefore should not automatically be treated as a major injury concern.
Unless India issues a fresh medical update, Rahul remains the expected opening partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI.
That distinction matters for a live selection article: a player who temporarily leaves the field is not necessarily unavailable for the next Test.
India Probable Playing XI for the Colombo Test
The current India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI projection is built around the Galle winners, with Saransh Jain the major selection possibility.
Probable India XI:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel
- Saransh Jain
- Manav Suthar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
Main alternative: Kuldeep Yadav could retain his place instead of Saransh Jain.
This prediction reflects the latest reporting rather than treating the change as confirmed. NDTV reported on August 20 that Saransh is likely to debut and could replace Kuldeep after the latter returned figures of 1/103 in Galle.
Saransh Jain vs Kuldeep Yadav
This is the defining selection battle in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI.
Kuldeep offers wrist-spin variation and considerable international experience. Saransh is a right-arm off-spinner who can also contribute with the bat and is yet to make his Test debut. He was included in India’s squad specifically as a spin-bowling all-round option.
The case for Saransh is not simply that Kuldeep had a quiet match. India’s first-Test conditions rewarded finger spin, while Suthar and Jadeja were central to the bowling plan. A Saransh selection would give India another off-spin option and potentially strengthen the lower order.
The case for Kuldeep is that one expensive Test does not erase his wicket-taking value.
That makes this a tactical decision rather than a straightforward form-based omission.
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India’s Other Availability Picture
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI must also be viewed against the wider squad situation.
Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable for the Sri Lanka series because of a knee injury, while Sai Sudharsan was ruled out because of his toe stress reaction. Washington Sundar was also unavailable for the first Test. Sarfaraz Khan subsequently replaced Sudharsan in the squad.
Those absences explain why India’s selection options look different from the squad originally announced.
Bumrah’s absence is particularly important for the bowling balance. India therefore have to rely on Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna as their principal pace pairing unless they decide to introduce another seamer.
For the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI, that makes the Saransh-Kuldeep decision even more interesting: India may choose to maximize spin depth rather than compensate for Bumrah’s absence with an additional fast bowler.
Sri Lanka Face a More Difficult Rebuild
Sri Lanka’s side of the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI story is driven primarily by availability rather than tactical experimentation.
Kusal Mendis was already ruled out because of a hamstring injury, while Pathum Nissanka remains unavailable as he continues recovering from wrist surgery. Dinesh Chandimal then became unavailable after suffering a concussion during the first Test. Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that both Mendis and Chandimal would miss the second Test.
That removes experience from an already pressured batting lineup.
Dinesh Chandimal is definitely out.
Chandimal’s absence is the clearest change to the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI.
He suffered a concussion while fielding in Galle and cannot simply return for the next match. ICC concussion protocols require a mandatory seven-day rest period for a player replaced because of concussion.
Sri Lanka therefore needs a new batter in his place.
Kusal Mendis remains unavailable.
Kusal Mendis was ruled out before the first Test because of a hamstring injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League. Niroshan Dickwella was recalled to provide wicketkeeping cover and subsequently played in Galle.
His absence is particularly significant because Sri Lanka are not replacing one player in isolation. Their batting group is already missing Nissanka and now Chandimal as well.
Nissanka remains out of the picture.
Pathum Nissanka was unavailable for the first Test while recovering from wrist surgery and remains outside the expected second-Test combination.
Unlike Chandimal, whose absence is now confirmed for Colombo, Nissanka’s situation should be described according to the latest medical and team information rather than exaggerated as a new injury.
Who Could Replace Chandimal?
Pasindu Sooriyabandara is the leading candidate for the vacant batting position in the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI.
He was already included in Sri Lanka’s original 16-player Test squad and was identified as a potential Test debutant. He also entered the first Test as Chandimal’s concussion substitute.
That makes him the natural name to watch for Colombo.
However, his selection should still be described as probable until Sri Lanka announces the official team.
The broader batting group is likely to revolve around Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha.
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Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI for the Second Test
The current India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test playing XI projection for the hosts is:
Probable Sri Lanka XI:
- Lahiru Udara
- Nishan Madushka
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara
- Kamindu Mendis
- Dhananjaya de Silva (captain)
- Sonal Dinusha
- Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper)
- Keshara Nuwantha
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Asitha Fernando
- Lahiru Kumara
There is more uncertainty here than in India’s lineup because Sri Lanka have several bowling alternatives in their squad, including Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Milan Rathnayake and Ramesh Mendis.
The batting change, however, is much easier to anticipate because Chandimal cannot play.
What Sri Lanka Need From Their Bowlers
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI should not be judged only by the replacement names. Sri Lanka also need their bowling unit to improve its ability to turn pressure into wickets.
Prabath Jayasuriya was the standout specialist spinner for Sri Lanka in India’s first innings, taking 4/109. Keshara Nuwantha also claimed three wickets on Test debut.
Yet India still reached 462.
That is the central challenge for the hosts. Even when Sri Lanka’s spinners created periods of pressure, India’s batting depth allowed the visitors to keep building partnerships.
A stronger bowling performance in Colombo therefore needs to be accompanied by a much better first-innings batting effort.
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI: Key Changes From Galle
The most useful way to understand the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI is to separate confirmed absences from selection possibilities.
| Team | Galle situation | Colombo outlook |
| India | Kuldeep played | Saransh could replace him |
| India | Suthar took 10 wickets | Strong retention candidate |
| India | Padikkal scored 167 and 44 | Strong retention candidate |
| India | Rahul retired hurt, then returned | Expected to remain available |
| India | Bumrah unavailable for series | Still unavailable |
| India | Sudharsan unavailable | Still unavailable |
| Sri Lanka | Kusal Mendis absent | Still unavailable |
| Sri Lanka | Chandimal played | Ruled out after concussion |
| Sri Lanka | Nissanka absent | Still recovering |
| Sri Lanka | Sooriyabandara in squad | Leading Chandimal replacement candidate |
This table captures the most important difference between the teams: India are considering a tactical adjustment; Sri Lanka are dealing with forced changes.
Why Colombo Could Influence India’s Final Decision
The India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI may ultimately depend on what India see at SSC.
India’s three-spinner setup worked in Galle, but the visitors do not have to use the same combination simply because it won.
Saransh could give the side another off-spin option and additional batting depth. Kuldeep provides a different type of spin and more international experience. A third option would be adding another specialist seamer, although there is currently less evidence that India are leaning that way.
The important point is that the final decision should be connected to the surface and match strategy rather than framed as a reaction to one player’s failure.
First-Test Performance That Shapes the Second-Test Selection
India’s 165-run victory gives the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI a useful performance baseline.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second. Manav Suthar finished with 10 wickets, including 6/55 in the second innings. KL Rahul made 82 after returning from his first-innings retirement hurt, while Dhruv Jurel added a valuable half-century.
Those performances make widespread changes difficult to justify.
Sri Lanka’s position is different. They lost by 165 runs and now have to replace Chandimal while continuing without Kusal Mendis and Nissanka.
That means the second Test is likely to begin with India having the more settled combination.
When Will the Official Playing XIs Be Confirmed?
The official India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI will only be known when the teams are announced at the toss before the Colombo Test.
Until then, readers should treat all projected lineups as predictions.
The most important final checks before publication or match time are:
- Whether Saransh Jain makes his Test debut.
- Whether Kuldeep Yadav retains his place.
- Whether KL Rahul receives a new fitness update.
- Whether Sri Lanka select Sooriyabandara for Chandimal.
- Whether Sri Lanka make a late pace-bowling change.
- Whether the SSC pitch changes either team’s preferred balance.
This distinction is especially important for a time-sensitive playing-XI page. A prediction can become outdated within minutes of the toss, so the article should be updated immediately once the official teams are announced.
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India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI: Final Prediction
The latest India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI prediction points toward a relatively settled India side and a more heavily altered Sri Lanka team.
India probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
India alternative: Kuldeep Yadav could retain his place if the management prefers wrist-spin variation over Saransh’s off-spin and batting balance.
Sri Lanka probable XI: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara.
The key story is therefore not simply which names appear on a list. India have the luxury of making a tactical choice after a convincing win. Sri Lanka have to rebuild around unavoidable absences.
For the India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI, Saransh Jain’s possible debut is the biggest Indian selection development, while Sooriyabandara’s potential promotion is the main Sri Lankan change to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India’s probable Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka?
India are expected to retain most of the Galle combination. Saransh Jain is the leading reported candidate to replace Kuldeep Yadav, although the final decision will be confirmed only at the toss.
What is Sri Lanka’s probable Playing XI for the second Test?
Sri Lanka are expected to include Pasindu Sooriyabandara in place of unavailable Dinesh Chandimal, while their remaining combination could depend on bowling selection and late fitness updates.
Is Dinesh Chandimal playing the second Test?
No. Chandimal has been ruled out after suffering a concussion while fielding during the first Test.
Is Kusal Mendis available for the Colombo Test?
No. Kusal Mendis remains unavailable because of a hamstring injury.
Will Pathum Nissanka play the second Test?
Nissanka remains unavailable while recovering from wrist surgery and was already absent from Sri Lanka’s first Test squad.
Will KL Rahul play the second Test?
Rahul is expected to remain available. He retired hurt because of cramps in the first Test but returned to the innings and scored 82.
Is Saransh Jain confirmed to make his Test debut?
No. Current reporting indicates that Saransh has a strong chance of debuting and could replace Kuldeep Yadav, but India have not officially announced the second Test XI.
Why is Manav Suthar likely to retain his place?
Suthar took 10 wickets in Galle, including 6/55 in the second innings, and played a decisive role in India’s 165-run victory.
Who could replace Dinesh Chandimal?
Pasindu Sooriyabandara is the leading candidate. He was already included in Sri Lanka’s Test squad and appeared as Chandimal’s concussion substitute in Galle.
When will the official India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XI be announced?
The official teams will be announced at the toss before the second Test begins on August 23 at the SSC in Colombo. Until then, projected lineups should be treated as probable rather than confirmed.
