Independence Day: Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill hoist Tricolour in Galle ahead of India’s historic 600th Test

Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India began Independence Day with a special moment in Galle as head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill and the Team India players gathered to hoist the Tricolour ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The occasion was even more special for Indian cricket as the team is playing its 600th Test on India’s 80th Independence Day.Gill won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening Test of the two-match series.The series is important for both teams as they look to collect crucial World Test Championship points and stay in the race for the 2027 WTC final. India are currently fifth in the standings, with Sri Lanka placed sixth.India have made one change to the team that played their last Test against Afghanistan in June.Devdutt Padikkal replaces Sai Sudharsan, who has been ruled out of the series with a stress fracture. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also unavailable due to a knee injury.India have gone with three spinners and two fast bowlers, the same combination they used against Afghanistan. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar are the three left-arm spin options.Sri Lanka have selected two fast bowlers and four spinners for the opening Test.Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha are part of the spin-heavy attack, while 25-year-old off-spin bowling all-rounder Keshara Nuwantha has been handed his Test debut.The Galle International Stadium is hosting its 50th Test.The pitch is expected to be good for batting in the opening two days, but spin is likely to become more effective as the match moves forward.Playing XIsSri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.