India vs Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI For 2nd Test - Will Axar Patel Play?

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Probable Playing XI - Will Axar Patel Play?

Cricket Image for India vs Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI - Will Axar Patel Play? (Image Source: Twitter)

Sri Lanka will face India in the pink ball Test at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, trying to level the two-match series after suffering a crushing defeat in the first game at Mohali's PCA Stadium. 

The defeat came in just three days. The extra few days saw India making one change in the squad - Axar Patel in for Kuldeep Yadav. 

The batting looks solid for India. Captain Rohit Sharma has backed Hanuma Vihari to play at the number three spot while Shreyas Iyer is being played at five. In the first test, Rishabh Pant came at number four and it looks like he will be continuing at the spot for a while now. 

One change that India is expected to do is get Axar Patel in the playing XI, replacing Jayant Yadav. Axar was at his lethal best the last time India played a pink ball test vs England in 2021. 

Patel is once again going to be a tough challenge for the opposition, especially Sri Lanka who were already struggling against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in this series. 

Another change that may or may not happen is Mohammad Siraj replacing one of the two pacers - Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. Since Bumrah is the vice-captain, Shami could be rested to manage workload and give Siraj some gametime. 

Whichever playing XI India play, the win for the home team is very likely in the second test. 

India Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel/Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj/Mohammad Shami