India outplayed the hosts by a record 304 runs in Galle, with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund putting in strong performances at the start of the three-match series. Speaking on the eve of the Colombo Test, Kohli made it clear that despite their stellar showing, one of the two openers will have to make way for Rahul, who is known as KL.
“Obviously KL has been our established opener. I feel one of the openers will have to make way for KL,” Kohli said of the 25-year-old. “What he’s done in the past two years for us has been very solid, and he deserves to come back and start fresh in Test cricket again.”
Dhawan hit a brilliant 190 in India’s first innings in Galle and is expected to retain his spot. That means Mukund is likely to miss out despite a gritty 81 in the second innings. Rahul, who has hit four Test centuries and seven fifties, played a vital role in India’s series win over Australia in March despite getting injured during the first match.
“He has batted really well in the last couple of seasons for us. As I said, it is very important for us to make him feel that this is his spot,” said Kohli, who gave no other details on the playing XI. Top-ranked India are looking to seal the series at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground against Sri Lanka who will welcome back skipper Dinesh Chandimal after a bout of pneumonia. Indian coach Ravi Shastri has talked up his team’s abilities, saying on Tuesday “a lot of big names have played for 20 years and they have come to Sri Lanka many times but they have never won a series. This team has done that.”
India overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Sri Lanka in 2015 and register their first Test series triumph in the island nation for 22 years. India reclaimed the world number one Test spot from arch-rivals Pakistan last year.
Meanwhile, Chandimal has been given permission by cricket’s world body to use an inhaler during the second Test against India. Chandimal, who was appointed Test captain last month, missed the opening Test. He returns for the second of the three Tests. The hosts have also been boosted by veteran spinner Rangana Herath being declared fit after injuring his finger in the first game. The International Cricket Council allowed Chandimal to use an inhaler to ease breathing while recovering from pneumonia.
Many inhalers contain substances that are banned by sporting authorities. “I am much better. Thanks to the ICC they gave permission for me to use the inhaler, and that will help me breathe properly. Rangana is also fit to play,” Chandimal said.
Chandimal, who became skipper after Angelo Mathews quit following the team’s humiliating one-day series defeat by Zimbabwe, hinted at playing two left-arm spinners at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. Uncapped spinner Malinda Pushpakumara is set to make his Test debut in a team struggling with many injuries. “Most probably Malinda will come into the side. Dhananjaya (de Silva) has more chance to replace Asela (Gunaratne). We’ll have to see the surface,” said Chandimal. Gunaratne broke a finger in the first Test.
World number one Test side India start as overwhelming favourites against seventh-ranked Sri Lanka, but Chandimal dismissed suggestions of a whitewash defeat in the series.
“Who is saying that? You can’t say that. They are a very talented team, but we aren’t going to lose 0-3,” Chandimal said. “We want to go and win. We are looking to give our best and win this game, level the series and then go to the third match. We have the determination to do that,” he added.