Kusal Mendis, Chandimal out of second Test, Kamil Mishara, Arachchige drafted in for Colombo Test

Sri Lanka have drafted batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige into the squad for the second Test against India in Colombo. The hosts are without Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal for the Colombo Test, with Pathum Nissanka also unlikely to feature.

After the Galle Test, which India won 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 set to miss out.

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 on Day 4, 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, impressed in the unofficial Tests between the two ‘A’ sides, scoring 127 in the second game, topping the run-charts for Lanka A. While India A won the game by 10 wickets, his defiant knock at five, while leading the side, was one of the highlights for the hosts.

Mishara looked in fine nick during the Lanka Premier League 2026, his first season, and continued that form by smashing 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 begins on August 23.