India vs Sri Lanka – 2nd Test Match Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is India vs Sri Lanka taking place? Saturday, March 12th, 2022 – 08:30 (UK)
Where is India vs Sri Lanka taking place? M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
What is the expected weather for India vs Sri Lanka? 26-34c dry and sunny, and light winds before clear skies during the evening’s play across all five days.
What channel is India vs Sri Lanka on? The match will be televised live on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404)
Where can I stream India vs Sri Lanka? The match can be streamed live via the Sky Go app
LAST MEETING
India beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs
THE TEAM NEWS
INDIA
- India recorded a thumping triumph over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series, piling up 574/8 after winning the toss and batting, before bowling the tourists out for 174 and 178 respectively to seal an innings win.
- Ravindra Jadeja was the star of the show for the hosts, hitting 175 not out with the bat, before taking nine wickets with the ball as spin accounted for 15 of the 20 Sri Lankan wickets.
- Axar Patel has recovered from injury and been named in the squad in the second Test with Kuldeep Yadav dropping out and Axar likely faces a straight shootout with Jayant Yadav as to who plays as India’s third spinner.
SRI LANKA
- It was a crushing defeat for Sri Lanka in Mohali and it will take a huge amount of mental resilience for them to bounce back here after the Indian batters ground them into the dirt before they were spun out in consecutive innings.
- Bowler Suranga Lakmal will be playing in his final match for Sri Lanka before joining Derbyshire with the onus on both him and Lasith Embuldeniya to lead an improved showing from the tourists with the ball.
- The temptation will no doubt by there for Sri Lanka to make changes following such a defeat, but it would be no surprise if they were instead to give the same players a second chance to try and make amends against a very strong opponent.
THE PREDICTION
Whilst Sri Lanka are expected to make a better fist of it here in this day/night test, they remain massive underdogs against this relentless Indian side who have now won five of their last six home test matches. The hosts have players right down the order who are capable of racking up big scores with the bat, whilst in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja they boast two bowlers who will cause the Sri Lankan batters more nightmares on what is expected to be another spin-friendly pitch in Bangalore. Ultimately, any outcome here other than another resounding India win would be a massive surprise.
