Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes that fast bowler Mohammed Siraj will play the pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka. The match will begin on Saturday, March 12, and will take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. He believes India will play an extra seamer and Siraj is likely to replace the off-spinner Jayant Yadav, as per him.

Previewing the second Test on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik opined: “I think it will be a straight swap for me. I think Mohammed Siraj will play in the XI if there is any inclination of it having something for the fast bowlers. Axar Patel is a straight swap with Jayant Yadav if it’s going to be a flat wicket. So I think it will be a toss-up between Jayant, Siraj, and Axar. For a start, I feel there will be a lot in it for the fast bowlers as we have seen around the world. Even in India, we saw when they left a bit of grass it does a lot. So I do think in Bangalore, there will be a lot in it for the medium pacers if they decide to keep a bit of grass on.”

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He further added: “The fact that India haven’t played for a long time in Bangalore, I do think it will be an interesting game. I do hope that since there was a lot of spin in Mohali, I would like to see our fast bowlers come into the game a lot more. I just hope Sri Lanka compete so that the Test goes the distance.”

Meanwhile, he said that he doesn’t see too many changes in the Sri Lankan batting for the pink-ball Test. However, they faced a defeat by an innings and 222 runs and Karthik feels the Sri Lankan team management doesn’t trust their veteran player Dinesh Chandimal that much.

He stated: “One is a forced change and that will be Chameera. For me in the batting, I don’t think they trust Chandimal as much as they used to. That is why you see Dickwella get an opportunity ahead of him. We all would like to think that Chandimal is a better overall player. They believe they have given him enough opportunities and he hasn’t done well. I don’t see too many changes in the batting and that is not a great sign, to be honest.”

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“I hope there is a wicket which aids the fast bowlers because if they end up playing the same XI and if the pitch aids spinners, then they are going to have a couple of long days again as well,” Dinesh Karthik signed off.