Reflecting on the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, there were a number of positives  for India, starting with the toss. Winning the toss was a huge advantage, particularly on a  pitch that was always likely to deteriorate and offer more assistance to the bowlers and  spinners as the game progressed. India made the most of that advantage by batting  brilliantly in the first innings and putting up a very strong total. 

One of the biggest highlights was Devdutt Padikkal’s century. It was a big, big hundred for  him, particularly because it came in just his third Test match. It is also worth noting that  Padikkal had already scored runs for the A side on the same ground six or seven weeks  earlier. That experience of playing in similar conditions may well have had an impact on his  ability to perform when the opportunity came at Test level. He had already had the benefit  of experiencing the conditions, understanding how the surface behaved and getting runs  under his belt, and that could have helped him when he came into the Test side. 

At the same time, it is difficult not to feel for Sai Sudharsan. He had also scored a hundred  for the A team in Sri Lanka, and he remains a terrific player who could potentially fill that  position at some point. But now there is genuine competition with Padikkal. That is  sometimes the unfair nature of top-level sport. You can lose your place through injury,  someone else comes in, takes the opportunity and performs extremely well. That is exactly  what has happened here. 

For India, though, it is a very good situation to be in. They now have a couple of left-handed  options they can turn to, and Padikkal was good enough to take his chance when it came  his way. His first-innings runs were absolutely crucial in the context of the match.  

There were also runs throughout the top order, with KL Rahul once again providing the kind  of stability that has become so important for India. He has been a rock for India so many  times, giving the team a platform from which the other batters can build. His ability to  contribute runs and provide that base is a huge positive. 

What was perhaps particularly encouraging for India was that Shubman Gill and Yashasvi  Jaiswal did not make big contributions in the first Test, yet India were still able to put  together a really big first-innings score. Of course, it is disappointing when two of your  main run-scorers miss out, but in another sense it demonstrates just how bright the future  is for the batting group. If two major contributors are unable to make a significant impact 

and the team can still rack up a big total, it shows there is considerable depth in the  batting. 

Rishabh Pant was another important part of that. We know what he can do and how he can  change a game, and his half-century was really impactful. His contribution added to an  Indian batting line-up that already had plenty of depth and allowed them to put themselves  in a very strong position. 

I do not expect the balance of the Indian attack to change too much going into the second  Test. There is a possibility, however, that the conditions in Colombo could make India think  about the balance of the side. Historically, the ground in Colombo has been a flatter wicket  with less in it for the bowlers. Obviously, it is always difficult to judge conditions when you  are so far away, but that history could mean India consider bringing in an extra seamer. 

If they do decide to change the balance, Kuldeep Yadav could potentially become  vulnerable. I do not see a situation where Ravindra Jadeja is dropped. Manav Suthar was  absolutely brilliant in the first Test and took 10 wickets in the match, so he will obviously  keep his place. 

Suthar was outstanding. I really enjoyed watching him bowl because of the subtle  variations he brings. He also played at my old county, Warwickshire, for a little bit, and he  has clearly been bowling with form and confidence. He bowls wicket to wicket and gives  himself different opportunities to take wickets. The ball can turn, it can bring the outside  edge into play and it can also bring the inside edge into play. He is bowling in a way that  gives him different potential routes to getting a wicket. 

He obviously had a surface that suited his bowling, but his performance was still terrific.  Another important factor for India could be the four left-handers in their top six. I do not  see that changing, and that could again prove to be an important part of the second Test,  particularly with Prabath Jayasuriya expected to play another major role for Sri Lanka. 

Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha played the first Test, with the young Nwantha only just  starting out in Test cricket. The off-spinner had a decent Test match, but with that many  left-handers in the Indian batting line-up, the focus will be on the off-spinner than the left arm spinner. 

Sri Lanka will have to make changes, particularly to their batting line-up. They have major  issues with their batting personnel. As I understand it, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal  Mendis are still not fit, while Pathum Nissanka is unlikely to be fit. That means three first choice batters are unavailable, which makes their task even more difficult.

Gary Kirsten, the Sri Lanka coach, was right to say after the game that they are a little short  in Test match cricket. That lack of experience proved to be an issue, although it is never  easy when you are chasing down a big first-innings score on a pitch that is getting worse as  the game progresses. 

For me, that was where Sri Lanka lost the game. Their top order struggled in both innings.  They were 90 for five in the first innings and 47 for four in the second innings. When you  lose that many wickets so early, you put enormous pressure on the middle order because  there is no platform from which they can build. 

Sonal Dinusha was absolutely brilliant, and I am really pleased for him. To score 184 runs  across the two innings against a very strong side in difficult conditions is an excellent  achievement, and he will take a lot of credit from the match. His performance was one of  the positives Sri Lanka can take from the game. 

But ultimately, Sri Lanka need to find 20 wickets and they also need to find a top-order  batting line-up that is capable of firing. That is going to be their challenge going into the  second Test, particularly with three of their first-choice batters unavailable. Those  absences are not going to make the job any easier. 

For India, everything points towards a very positive second Test. I would expect them to  dominate the second match and build on the confidence they gained from the first Test.  

I would also expect Shubman and Yashasvi, who missed out in the first game, to  potentially score big in the second Test. They are two of India’s main run-scorers, and after  failing to make big contributions in the opening match, there is every reason to think they  could come back strongly.