TimesofIndia.com in Galle: Sri Lanka held a closed-door practice session on Wednesday. Although the facility remained off-limits to the public and the media, the iconic Galle Fort offered a brilliant view of the proceedings. Midway through their hit, the hosts got a surprise visitor as India head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak dropped in to take a look at the pitch. The cover briefly came off for the duo and was immediately put back on the moment they left. In the practice nets adjacent to the playing surface, Sri Lanka continued to train while the groundstaff applied finishing touches.Less than two hours after Gambhir and Kotak left, the main cover came off and a grass mower was out on the playing surface. Under close watch, the groundstaff made plenty of trips up and down the 22 yards before vacating for the soft roller to do its magic. It was exposed to the sun for a while before the covers were again put on.The pitch will attract considerable attention as it is set to heavily influence India’s playing XI combination.Three days before the Test and it looks like options for both three seamers and three spinners are very much on the table. The management had emphasised in the past that they need to factor in Day 1 before finalising the bowling combination. So if the pitch doesn’t scream turn, it wouldn’t be a susprise if Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar play.The selection puzzle isn’t that difficult for the visitors to solve, but the crucial call between an extra seamer or spinner could well be the deal clincher. With no luxury of a Washington Sundar or a seam-bowling all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy, the side can’t afford to get their specialists wrong.The match-up logic could well keep Saransh Jain in the conversation, but Kuldeep Yadav must play the two Tests to give captain Shubman Gill the best shot at picking 20 wickets, in the absence of an injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Galle Stadium (Photo by TimesofIndia.com)
Apart from the playing XI, the weather apps will also keep the Indian management busy, as there have been short-but-very-strong spells of rain since the team checked into their sea-facing resort. It was clearer and sunnier on Wednesday but there is a strong forecast of rain in the coming week.India didn’t train on August 11 and 12 but will hit the ground starting at 10am on Thursday. The team had an intense workout in Colombo, featuring three high-intensity training sessions and a three-day warm-up where all batters and bowlers got a good feel in the middle.The match simulation on the final day at the NCC Ground concluded a fruitful week for Gill & Co. and they would hit Galle refreshed and rejuvenated for the business end of preps.
