Sri Lanka’s dreadful tour of India, in which they have lost all four matches so far (three T20Is and one Test), might become much worse as rumours surface that brilliant opener Pathum Nissanka will miss the forthcoming second Test against India in Bengaluru, which starts on March 12.
Sri Lanka lost the first Test by an innings and 222 runs at Mohali, scoring just 174 and 178 runs in response to India’s 574/8d. Overall, the islanders’ batting and bowling performances in the first Test were dismal, as their batsmen had no response for Ravindra Jadeja’s nine wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin’s six wickets.
Jadeja also smashed 175* from No. 7 and scored 100 runs or more with Rishabh Pant (96), Ravichandran Ashwin (61), and Mohammad Shami (20*), earning him Player of the Match honours.
Old back injuries resurface, forcing Pathum Nissanka to withdraw from the Bengaluru test, according to reports.
Nissanka had been a bright spot for Sri Lanka throughout their bleak tour of India, scoring 75 in the second T20I at Dharamsala and 61 and 6 in the first Test, appearing comfortable against Indian spin and speed bowlers.
The 23-year-old worsened some previous back ailments during training in the lead-up to the game, according to sources in the Sri Lankan media. The news was verified by a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official to CricWire.
“Pathum has some back trouble from a prior injury; we’ll keep an eye on him, but he’s unlikely to play,” the official stated.
Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis are two alternatives for the Sri Lankan team management who may replace Nissanka in the playing XI. Mendis, who was out for the first Test owing to a hamstring ailment, is now fit and ready to play.
Mendis has 3022 runs at an average of 34.74 in 47 Tests, with seven centuries and 11 fifties. He just returned to international play after serving a six-month suspension for violating bio-bubble restrictions during Sri Lanka’s tour of England last year.
The second and final Test between the two teams will take place at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on March 12 and will be a day-night Test match.