Sri Lanka announce Test squad for India tour; exclude Kusal Mendis

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) selectors today announced the Test squad for the tour of India. One of the highlights of the selection was the omission of Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva and Nuwan Pradeep. The three players do not feature in the squad as it was speculated days ahead of the eventual announcement. Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka make a return to the team along with a fit-again Angelo Mathews.

Asela Gunaratne and Kusal Perera were also nursing injuries and when the fitness tests declared them fit, their inclusion in the 15-man squad was expected but that wasn’t the case. Despite SLC CEO Ashley de Silva’s comments where he had said, “considered for selection for the Indian series.”

Earlier the opener was brought back in the side for the two-match Test series against Pakistan in the UAE. Despite the fact that the team won both the matches all he managed was 67 runs in four innings. Mendis also had a rather dry run and the selectors lost faith in him.

On expected lines, Dhanajaya de Silva who led the Sri Lanka A team on their tour to West Indies scored a hundred and two half centuries in five innings to earn his spot back in the team. Considering the uniqueness of his trade Lakshan Sandakan aced over leggie Jeffrey Vandersay. The two other spinners in the line-up are the veteran Rangan Herath and Dilruwan Perera.

The Lankan team will reach India a week ahead of the start of the opening Test in Kolkata and will also play a warm-up game leading into the series. Landing in India, the team will have mixed feelings since they’d be high on the series win in the UAE but will also remember the 3-0 drubbing the Indians handed them at home not long ago.

Sri Lanka Squad for the three-match Test series against India:

Dinesh Chandimal (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Roshen Silva

Test series Fixtures

1st Test – India v Sri Lanka | November 16-20 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata

2nd Test – India v Sri Lanka | November 24-28 | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

3rd Test – India v Sri Lanka | December 2-6 | Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi