India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Match Playing 11: Kuldeep, Suthar included; Jurel to be preferred over Sarfaraz

India's first Test in Sri Lanka in 13 years begins on Saturday, coinciding with the nation's Independence Day celebration. Following their dominant performance in the previous Test series in 2017, Indian batting has been under intense scrutiny due to their struggles against New Zealand and South Africa. This Test marks the beginning of a challenging journey for India to avoid repeating their failure to qualify for the second straight World Test Championship final.

Prior to arriving in Sri Lanka, the team lost the services of premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and it seems Manav Suthar's form may also be affected, leading to possible gaps in the spin department. Captain Shubman Gill remains tight-lipped about the selection of Gurnoor Brar or Prasidh Krishna, both of whom have been impressive in the warm-up game, as the decision seems to hinge on their ability to exploit the conditions with pace and bounce.