Gill has been cleared to lead India after recovering from a finger injury that limited his involvement in the warm-up match. India enter the two-Test series fifth in the World Test Championship 2025–27 standings and will be looking to strengthen their position with a strong performance in Sri Lanka.
India’s squad has already been affected by injuries. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out with a left knee issue, while Washington Sundar will miss the first Test. Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain have been brought into the squad as replacements, while Sarfaraz Khan is also set to join the team in Colombo.
With Bumrah unavailable, Gill admitted that choosing the right pace combination will not be straightforward. Gurnoor Brar’s ability to extract bounce with the old ball has impressed the captain, while Prasidh Krishna has also made a strong case after bowling well in the warm-up game.
“Gurnoor Brar is excellent with the old ball as he can extract bounce at a good pace. But Prasidh Krishna is bowling well of late as we have seen in the warm-up match. So it’s a tough call. Jasprit Bumrah is not here but it’s an opportunity for someone to step up,” Gill said.
Gill also stressed the importance of giving young players enough time to develop, while revealing that he is becoming increasingly comfortable in his role as captain.
With Sai Sudharsan unavailable, Devdutt Padikkal is expected to bat at No. 3, while Dhruv Jurel could retain his place in the middle order.
India’s primary objective will be to revive their WTC campaign and remain in contention for the final. Gill believes the team may need to win six or seven of their remaining Tests to keep their hopes alive.
“I am comfortable in my role as captain now. Our goal is to stay in contention for a berth in the World Test Championship final. We need to win six or seven Tests for that. So we want to make a beginning here,” Gill said.
