Sri Lanka have roped in batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige into the squad for the second Test against India in Colombo. The hosts will be without experienced pros Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal for the next Test, with ace batter Pathum Nissanka also unlikely to feature.
After the Galle Test, which India won comprehensively by 165 runs, Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten confirmed that Mendis has a “proper hamstring injury” and won’t be available for a while. Chandimal is also expected to sit out the affair.
Mendis has been nursing a hamstring injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League and was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella in the squad.
Chandimal was ruled out following an injury while riding the boundary on the fourth day, with concussion protocols necessitating a minimum seven-day stand-down time. He was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute.
Arachchige, uncapped in Tests, made a splash in the unofficial Tests between the two A sides, notching up 127 in the second game as he topped the run-charts for Lanka A. While India A won the game swimmingly, his defiant knock at number five, while leading the side, was one of the major highlights for the hosts.
Mishara looked in sublime touch during the Lanka Premier League 2026, his first season, and continued that form by smoking a 72-ball 145 in the Major Clubs T20 tournament the very same day he was called up to the Test squad. The second Test between the two sides kicks off on August 23.