BANGALORE: Injury-hit Sri Lanka will need nothing less than a miracle to deny hosts India a 2-0 sweep in the Test series when the two sides meet in the second and final Test in Bangalore, which will be played under the lights from Saturday.

India have not lost a series at home in the longest format since their 2-1 defeat by England in 2012 and won their 14th consecutive series at home when they beat inaugural World Test Champions New Zealand at the end of last year.

Led by new Test captain Rohit Sharma, the side blanked Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs inside three days in the opening match in Mohali.

Sharma’s side will be firm favourites to extend their unbeaten streak, having never lost a Test to Sri Lanka at home.

To make matters worse for the touring side, Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the pink-ball Test with a back injury.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who missed the first match with an injury, was also unavailable, while Lahiru Kumara injured his hamstring in Mohali.

The hosts, in contrast, have welcomed back fit-again Axar Patel for the Bangalore Test and the left-arm spinner is expected to replace Jayant Yadav in the side if India decide to continue with three tweakers.

It will be the third day-night Test in India and the hosts have won both their previous pink-ball contests — against England and Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2022