Sri Lanka loses Mendis and Chandimal to injuries ahead of India test

Sri Lanka's cricket squad faces mounting injury concerns ahead of the second test against India, with coach Kirsten confirming that two of the hosts' leading batters will miss the match starting Sunday.

Kusal Mendis will not have recovered sufficiently from his hamstring injury to participate in the crucial fixture, compounding Sri Lanka's troubles during the series. The injury setback means the team will need to shuffle its batting order, potentially turning to alternative options in the middle order.

Adding to the coaching staff's headaches, opener Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out after sustaining a concussion, depriving the hosts of experience at the top of the order. The dual absences represent a significant blow to Sri Lanka's chances in the test series against the touring Indian side.

With both players unavailable, Sri Lanka will be forced to make tactical adjustments to their playing XI. The injuries underscore the physical demands of test cricket and the challenges teams face when managing player fitness across a series.