India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Prediction and Betting Tips

07:00, Mar 12 2022
07:00, Mar 12 2022
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A Ravindra Jadeja inspired India romped to an innings and 222 run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test. It would be a brave / foolish, punter that would back against India sealing a 2-0 series win when the teams meet again in Bengaluru on Saturday. Read our free predictions and betting picks for the game here…
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Key Stats

  • India unbeaten in their last 14 Test series at home (dating back to 2013)
  • In those 14 Test series, India have lost only two Test matches
  • In home Tests, India have won 12 against Sri Lanka and nine matches have been drawn
  • By winning the first Test, India became the only side to win 21 Tests vs Sri Lanka

Where is the betting value?

With India so short (1.10), the task is to find value at more attractive prices. Because everything points to another comprehensive home win. The last time under lights in Ahmedabad India thrashed England by ten wickets. In general, India dominates home Tests.

The last time Sri Lanka were whitewashed by India in a multi-Test series was in February 1994. They have a 2:1 win/loss record in day night Tests. The lights could narrow the gap somewhat, but not enough to remotely suggest Sri Lanka can avoid another hefty defeat.

Rohit Sharma off to a winning start as India dominate

With a win under his belt from his first Test in charge, Rohit Sharma will be seeking a clean sweep over Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. India are short-priced to win the second Test for a reason – they’re a far more complete and talented team.

Ravindra Jadeja put in an A-grade all-round performance. He became the sixth man to score 150 or more and take a five-for in the same Test. And he was just one wicket away from becoming the first man to score 150-plus and take ten wickets in the same match.

Fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets in Mohali. In doing so he became India’s second-highest wicket-taker as he went past Kapil Dev.

Axar Patel is back

The spin torment looks set to be magnified as Axar Patel returns to India squad for the second Test. The left-arm spinner has recovered from a shin injury and a bout of Covid-19 and replaces Kuldeep Yadav in the squad. It seems likely that Axar will come straight back into the XI in place of Jayant Yadav.

Axar has taken 36 wickets in his first five Tests at just 11.86. The Bengaluru Test is the host’s third day/night home Test. In India’s last day-night match in Ahmedabad last year, Azar took match figures of 11 for 70 to demolish England. He has taken a five-for in half of the ten innings in which he has bowled.

Ashwin and Jadeja are obvious picks to take the most wickets for India, but there is greater value in backing Axar at a much higher price.

We can’t trust Virat until he turns the corner

If Virat Kohli scores less than 43, his average will drop below 50 for the first time in 49 Tests. Ten of his last 15 innings have seen him dismissed for under 43. The former skipper always used to be the betting play to be top scorer for India, but until he shows he has turned the corner, he’s to be avoided.

Jadeja top scored in the first Test and Rishabh Pant hit a storming 96 from 97 balls, and many will think the betting value rests with the ever-consistent Rohit Sharma at 3.75. I’m not a great believer in backing someone because they are due a good performance. Rohit, in all formats, has gone nine matches since his last 50-plus innings.

Shreyas Iyer is interesting. He will play his fourth Test in Bengaluru and has so far scored 229 runs at 45.80, including a century on debut. At 7.00 to top score, he’s well worthy of consideration.

Can Sri Lanka give more?

It is very difficult to make a case for a Sri Lanka bounce back in Bengaluru. They were second best by some distance in Mohali and extended their record to no Test wins in India in 21 attempts.

Overall, in 45 Tests played, India have won 21 matches and Sri Lanka have won seven.

Pathum Nissanka or Dimuth Karunaratne

Pathum Nissanka is the bright light of Sri Lanka’s batting. The 23-year-old has scored 61-plus in three of his last four innings. He has top scored twice in that period.

A combination of India’s high-class bowling consistency and a lack of Sri Lankan application with the bat looks set to continue. The tourists were dismissed to totals of 174 & 178. Two fifties were scored, but the first Test result had more than a sense of inevitability.

Sri Lanka’s nos. eight to 11 bagged six ducks in the Mohali Test, equalling the world record. The onus is on the top order to carry the batting, as it should be.

Dimuth Karunaratne has a second-best Test score of 196 under lights in Dubai in a 2017 win over Pakistan.
The pink ball provides a different challenge and Karunaratne has shown he can cope. That gives him a very slight edge over Nissanka. But both men are good plays to top score for the Islanders.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

There have been 23 Tests with eight won by India, six by the touring side and the predominant result has been the draw. Most of the games played on this ground have been won by the chasing side.

These two sides have met in Bengaluru only once before

The first innings average at this venue over the last five Tests is 344. However, the two previous day/night Tests in India witnessed first innings scores of 106 & 112.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreya0s Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya.

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07:00/12 mar
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test
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05:00/12 mar
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