India Vs Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal likely to return for second Test, suspense over Rangana Herath

Colombo, July 31: Sri Lanka's regular Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal is likely to return on the cricket field and will be leading the side in the upcoming second Test against India, starting August 3.

Ind-SL series schedule

As per reports, Chandimal has recovered from pneumonia and is fit to play in the second Test. Chandimal, 27, was admitted to the hospital after he was suspected of pneumonia on July 21.

His return will boost the confidence of team, especially after 304-run drubbing at the hands of the visitors.

However, there is supense on the fitness of their senior most bowler Rangana Herath, who sustained an injury in Galle Test. Herath, the seasoned campaigner and bowling mainstay, injured his finger while fielding in the first Test against India. The 38-year-old left-arm spinner was the stand-in captain for the side as well.

Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lanka's cricket manager and selector, was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying,"Dinesh should be fit, he actually played this (Sunday) morning and he has batted the last couple of days."

"We have to see how he is going to come up in the next couple of days because his finger is pretty sore," Gurusinha said of Herath's condition. "We will give him till the last minute to make sure that he is fit.

"The day before the Test we will see whether he can drift the ball, it will come down to that. If he can without pain he will play, otherwise we will have to look at different options. The finger is not swollen but it's sore and painful."

Chandimal will replace Danushka Gunathilaka, who made his Test debut in Galle. While Kusal Mendis is expected to return to the No. 3 slot. Mendis came at No. 4 in the opening Test against India as Gunathalika came at his spot in that game.

"It's for just one game, we pushed Kusal to four. Danushka was in form and you can't bat him in the middle order," Gurusinha said. "We couldn't get him to open either because the openers were already there, that's why we got Kusal to four for this Test. When Chandimal comes back, he will go back to No. 3 straight away. He is our No. 3 and we are grooming him for that position definitely."

Asela Gunaratne, who was also injured in Galle Test, has already been ruled out of entire rubber.

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