IND vs SL Tests: Morne Morkel backs KL Rahul to play key role in series against Sri Lanka

KL Rahul (Pic: File Pic)

Team India is set to clash with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort.

Ahead of the series, Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel heaped praise on KL Rahul and said that his experience and communication will help the youngsters in the Sri Lankan conditions.

"KL, the last couple of years, the way he's been leading up front with the batting has been exceptional, and that's a sort of communication that we expect him to speak to the guys here in the preparation at the nets and about what to expect," he said.

The bowling coach then said that the team's early arrival in Sri Lanka has allowed players to work on their game plans.

"But I think, our guys have learned a lot about their games individually over the last couple of months and that's one of the reasons why we've come out here 10 days earlier to give the guys the best opportunity to prepare to work on their individual game plans and individual game plans, and yeah, just to figure out how they're going to score on the surface here," said Morkel.

Ahead of the series, Madhya Pradesh's veteran off-spinner Saransh Jain has received a maiden call-up due to Washington Sundar's unavailability for the first Test match. Sundar is undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring injury. Jain has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. According to several media reports, he was in contention for the series.

Mumbai's right-handed batsman Sarfaraz Khan has also been announced as the replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan.

Team India has included Aquib Nabi in the squad as Jasprit Bumrah's replacement. The side is also grappling with multiple injury concerns ahead of the series, with Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy sidelined due to hamstring and quadriceps injuries, respectively.

Also, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will mark his comeback after recovering from a tennis elbow injury suffered during the concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The all-rounder's role will be crucial for the visitors' success in the series.

IND vs SL 1st Test: Full squads

India: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dilshan Madushanka, Keshara Nuwantha.

(With ANI Inputs)