Sri Lanka received a hammering from India in the first Test in Galle, leaving the hosts in a must-win situation for the second Test in Colombo. But their chances of levelling the series took a big hit after Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal were ruled out of the Test due to injuries. Pathum Nissanka’s participation also remains doubtful.

Mendis also missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury he picked up in the Lanka Premier League, while Chandimal played the first Test but didn’t bat in the second innings after picking up a neck and shoulder injury. Nissanka, meanwhile, continues to recover from a wrist surgery he underwent in June.

Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten confirmed the development.

“Kusal Mendis has got a proper hamstring injury. He’s not going to be available for a while,” Kirsten said after Sri Lanka’s defeat in Galle.

“Nissanka as well and Dinesh [Chandimal] are also not available for the next Test. So, we’re missing a few guys from that perspective.”

The defeat to India was Sri Lanka’s second in three Tests, having also lost the Test against West Indies by an innings and 217 runs in North Sound, Antigua, in June. Gary Kirsten, who joined Sri Lanka in April this year, however, is not too concerned over the loss and already sees the team progressing in the right direction.

“I’m particularly excited by being involved with Sri Lankan cricket. I think there’s some great players here, but the team still needs to develop. It is sometimes tough when you don’t play Test match cricket to understand how you need to play that,” Kirsten said.

“This is now our third Test match in the space of a couple of months, and I can already see the team developing, and we’re starting to build some shape into the team.

“But we need to be able to turn it into a performance at some point. But as I said, we’re kind of building that and developing that as best we can.”

Sri Lanka were reduced to 99 for five in their first innings in Galle but fought back to take the game to the fifth Day. Sonal Dinusha had a wonderful Test and almost scored centuries in both innings, having been dismissed for 84 on the final day. Kirsten was impressed with the team’s fighting attitude despite having their backs against the wall so early in the game.

“From being 99 for 5 at the beginning of the third day, to then taking the Test match into the afternoon of the fifth day was particularly pleasing. There was a bit of fight and that we were keen to try and stay in the Test match,” he said.

“We still believed even this morning that we could make something happen, either win the Test match or certainly draw it. So, I was really pleased with the energy and the attitude of the team around that.

“But I think if you look at the Test match, we battled with the bat, especially in our top order, in both innings and that probably cost us.”

Kirsten added that the injuries could open the door for players waiting for their opportunity.

“So, we’re missing a few guys from that perspective, but it creates a great opportunity for young players to come in and stake their claim. In fact, players that have got really good first-class records in this country. So it’s a good opportunity for them,” he said.