Dilshan Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis dropped for Colombo Test


For the second Test against India in Colombo, Sri Lanka has selected batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige. For the SSC Test, the hosts won't have Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, or Dinesh Chandimal. After the Galle Test, which India won by 165 runs, Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that Mendis has a “proper hamstring injury” sustained during the Lanka Premier League and won’t be available for a while. Chandimal was ruled out of the Galle Test following an injury while fielding on Day 4, with concussion protocols necessitating a minimum seven-day stand-down time. As a concussion substitute, Pasindu Sooriyabandara took his place. Arachchige, who has never played in a Test, did well in the unofficial Tests between the "A" teams. In the second game, he scored 127 runs, leading Lanka A in runs. While India A won the game by 10 wickets, his defiant knock at five, while leading the side, was one of the highlights for the hosts. Mishara performed admirably in his first season in the Lanka Premier League 2026. On the same day that he was selected for the Test squad, he scored a 72-ball 145 in the Major Clubs T20 tournament. In the absence of incumbent opener Nishan Madushka, he is likely to start. The 14-man squad also has no place for Dilshanka Madushanka and Ramesh Mendis, who were part of a 16-member squad for the Test in Galle. On August 23, the two teams will begin the second Test. Sri Lanka squad for 2nd Test v India: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva (c), Sahan Arachchige, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Ratnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando