With India set to begin their Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, the pitch is expected to be one of the primary topics of discussion. Unlike the typical Galle pitch, the surface is relatively moist and, in comparison to previous years, quite green.

It is unclear how quickly the surface will begin to dry, and if it will crack as most pitches in Galle are accustomed to doing.

Recent matches that have taken place in Galle saw batters post big scores before the surface began to turn. India bowling coach Morne Morkel expects similar conditions, noting that while it is currently a good surface, it will likely change throughout the duration of the Test match.

“Look, it looked like a good surface. And I think as the Test match goes on, something will start to happen. We've prepared basically for all that can come our way,” said Morkel in the pre-Test media conference.

“If you think about it, it is a mental thing as well, being at the middle for so long and being disciplined with the ball in hand. It boils down to that.” In addition to the preparation, Morkel also expects a big role to be played by the moisture in the pitch.

Morne Morkel Expects Batters to Enjoy the First Two Days

Morne Morkel feels the opening pair of days may well go to the batting team, which makes the toss and the decision that comes with it even more crucial.

India will be wanting to take advantage if they are asked to bat first, while the bowlers will have to stay disciplined if they get the chance to make early inroads. Morkel feels the pitch looks good to bat on and that he will be surprised if it does the opposite, especially considering batting teams have dominated the first two days in the past.

“I think it is a good-looking surface to the eye.

I will be surprised if it goes the other way. Traditionally the first two days belong to the batting team, and it is just a matter of getting runs on the board,” Morne Morkel said.

The ex-pace spearhead added that the team would have to be flexible depending on how the pitch behaves on a given day.

“If you bat first you need to take advantage and make sure you go big, and if we bowl first we need to get the ball in the right areas,” he said.

That could well be a deciding factor for the visitors when it comes to picking the squad. India will need to choose between their 'spin' and 'pace' options as they look to gain an advantage in Galle.

The pitch report may make the former even more important, but the touring side cannot ignore the fact that it will provide good batting conditions for the opening two days as well.

Three Spinners Or Three Pacers? India To Make A Choice

The pitch report means India are presented with the dilemma of choosing between three specialist spinners or an extra pace bowler. For now, it seems as though the visitors are more likely to go with the former than the latter. They will almost certainly field three left-arm spinners considering the surface on which they will be playing on and the value of having backup in attack.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that the inclusion of three spinners will add much-needed depth to the batting, which is something Gambhir has always advocated for.

Ravindra Jadeja is expected to retain his spot as the number one all-rounder, while Kuldeep is a definite for the squad as well. Mohammed Siraj is likely to lead the attack, but it will be interesting to see who fills the balance.

According to reports, Prasidh Krishna has edged out Gurnoor Brar in the race for the second seamer's spot. On the other hand, Manav Suthar could also make it into the squad, giving the visitors an extra spin option while adding much-needed batting depth as a number eight. With his performances against Afghanistan in the one-day international series, Suthar has made a compelling case for his inclusion. That said, India do have a dilemma on their hands if they go with the anticipated combination.

If they pick Jadeja, Kuldeep, and Suthar, it will see them field three left-arm spinners in the match, which is highly unlikely to be a problem for Morkel.

“There are three left-arm spinners in the Indian squad, but all three of them have different weapons in their arsenals. So, depending on the conditions, we can utilize any of their variations to get wickets. Kuldeep is more of an attacking spinner, while Jaddu has got that experience and class in his game. I think, for us, they are all different in their own ways,” he said.

The bowling coach also feels that the captaincy of Shubman Gill will play a big role in the success of the experiment involving three left-arm spinners.

It all boils down to how the Indians assess the conditions before the start of the match. If the surface looks good for batting, they may well need to bolster their lower middle order before looking to extract any help from the spin department.

Galle Test Might Be An Interesting Battle Of Adaptability

The uncertainty of the Galle track adds even more intrigue to this first Test. Instead of being the classic turning ground that everyone is used to, Galle might just demand that the bowlers be patient while the batters remain focused on not losing their wickets.

For the visitors, that means that the first two days might be a procession to the scorebook while the next two days see the equation shift towards spin.

The Indian squad that takes on Sri Lanka in Colombo might just have to answer one question before their final XI is confirmed – the extent to which they are willing to trust the surface to turn as the match progresses.