Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned India’s bowling plans against Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha in the second Test. He believes India had enough information and support to identify Dinusha’s weakness and use it more effectively.
Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 in Colombo as Sri Lanka managed to draw the match after being asked to follow on. Speaking on Sony Sports, Kaif said the issue was not just with captain Shubman Gill but with the entire bowling unit and coaching staff.
Kaif said India’s resources made the situation even more surprising. Dinusha had already given India a clue about his weakness in the first innings, when debutant off-spinner Saransh Jain dismissed him for 103 with a fuller delivery.
Kaif Questions India’s Plan Against Dinusha
Kaif also pointed out that India’s younger bowlers have limited experience of bowling deep into Test matches, especially on pitches that become different as the game goes on.
However, he felt India should have had a better plan for Dinusha by the time the second Test came around.
Dinusha finished the two-Test series with 420 runs at an average of 140. His performances in Colombo, where he scored centuries in both innings, also earned him the Player of the Match award.
India won the series 1-0 after securing a 165-run victory in Galle. However, the draw in Colombo meant Gill’s side missed out on another possible World Test Championship win.
Will India still qualify for WTC final?
The result also highlighted the importance of India’s upcoming WTC matches as they look to qualify for the 2027 final.
India’s next WTC assignment will be against New Zealand. The two-Test match series is scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19, followed by the second Test in Christchurch from November 27.
India will then take on Australia in a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting in January 2027.