Under the cloudy and comparatively humid sky in Colombo, India’s three-day warm-up match was a welcome reprieve ahead of their Test series opener against Sri Lanka in Galle. Apart from the weather and the persistent injury concerns, nearly every player managed to get sufficient game time on their legs. In theory at least, it was a useful exercise for them to adapt to the sluggish subcontinental conditions and iron out a few creases.

In practice, however, as the touring leaders contemplate an early move down to the coastal town, there is an almost farcical lack of clarity on the XI.

With Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, and Sai Sudharsan all sidelined, it seems that the Indian Test batting order and their attack plans are both solved – for the time being at least. The in-form Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar both seem to have secured immediate futures in the top order, with a similarly impressive recent run adding to their credentials. The attack has no such clear answer, apart from the obvious fact that it needs one.

Especially in the context of the World Test Championship and the crucial points that will be on the line in this tournament, it is hard to overstate the impact of Bumrah’s absence. He and Mohammed Siraj ideally should have formed a formidable seam-bowling pair, but with the former ruled out, their new-ball partner now needs a dependable ally as well. At least in the short term, however, it appears that the onus will fall largely on the latter.

Assuming that their preparations will see them utilise the two seamers that they are likely to deploy in Galle, their attack deliberations are almost certainly between Prasidh Krishna and the debutant Gurnoor Brar. Auqib Nabi, who has so far bowled five overs across Colombo, is already well outside the frame for the moment.

The Veteran’s Claim: Proven pedigree and primary duty for India

If choosing bowlers was merely about grades, Prasidh Krishna would have been on the sidelines. A side that had neither Bumrah nor Sundar, and wanted seam goodness, is in a large part, dependent upon the most experienced option available to the management.

In red-ball cricket, Krishna’s story has been one of the underachievers being placed in tiers, with a bowler of his rank being ‘poorly utilized’. However, if the ‘tier’ was to be upgraded, and a new ball was to be hurled at the striker’s crease with the responsibility of defending the fortress of India, he has more than once been transformed into something else entirely. The one-off Test against Afghanistan and a draining final Test in Oval last year were both statements of a man who thrives on responsibility. A pairing of him with Siraj, and a fresh red cherry in his hand, is perhaps a high-floor that the Indian management would do well to consider. The Challenger’s

Surge: Raw pace, bounce, and Galle memory

If there is a need for someone who has the potential to bring in X-Factor to the table, the man to turn to would be 26-year-old Gurnoor Brar. In a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, he tore through the batting order with his raw pace and aggressive bounce. Fast-tracked to the senior team, the left-arm seamer has been a major asset in the warm-up game in Colombo, with the man not getting a sniff at the new ball in either innings proving his mettle with the most vicious spells of short-pitched bowling. Three of the five wickets fell to seamers in the match, and two of them were claimed by Brar.

More pertinent to the conditions of the Galle Test, the right-handed Brar has had a run of experience in Sri Lanka, with the ‘India A’ paceman claiming headlines with a ten-wicket haul in Galle against the hosts.

While Krishna provided solid overs at the death, especially with a well-delivered second innings yorker, Brar’s rise has mainly come in white-ball cricket, except for a five-wicket haul against Afghanistan.

On the other hand, Brar offers something different, something more. The ability to get bounce out of the dry, gruffy Galle surface would offer India another weapon in case the track does not turn out to be a rank turner. A useful lower-order batter and success against left-handers by working the ball around the edges of the crease only add to the appeal of the rookie pacer.

While experience is often a valuable asset in Test cricket, it sometimes comes at the cost of timing. And timing, as they say, is everything. So, tapping into the confidence, rhythm and momentum of a man who is currently at the peak of his powers could be just the aggressive statement India needs to make early in the series.

Prasidh Krishna

Gurnoor Brar vs Prasidh Krishna

India vs Sri Lanka Test

India Test team

Galle Test

India playing XI

Jasprit Bumrah

Mohammed Siraj