India face the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday with more than just the series result hanging in the balance. The visitors look set to record their first overseas Test series win in three years, while Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal both have a point to prove.

India haven't won a Test series away from home since beating the West Indies in July 2023, with a string of defeats following in Australia and draws in South Africa and England. Recent home Tests against New Zealand and South Africa provided further evidence that, when it comes to Test cricket, India are no longer the side that once steamrolled the cricketing world.

A comprehensive 165-run win in Galle, however, has served as a timely reminder that India have no issue winning on foreign soil for Shubman Gill's young team.

Gill and Jaiswal Carry India's Next Big Challenge

The Galle win not only marked a significant step towards victory in the WTC but also served to alleviate the pressure on the team and their new captain, Gautam Gambhir, after two consecutive home series losses. However, as India prepares to face the Windies in Colombo for the final Test, they must resist the temptation to slow down.

With the prospect of clinching a 2-0 series win, Gill will have an opportunity to record an overseas series win as captain, while also gaining vital points in the WTC standings.

India has the chance to improve to as high as fourth in the WTC rankings if they manage to secure a win. The current fourth-placed Bangladesh, who have 66.67 percentage points, have an extremely slim chance of remaining in fourth if they manage to avoid defeat in the second Test against Australia in Mackay. A loss in Mackay will see the Tigers slip to fifth with 55.56 percentage points.

While the points and ranking would be nice for India, they might not matter as much as the opportunity to see the two young batters get their due. Gill, in particular, seems to be in good rhythm and a big series would only add to his positive momentum.

Gill has good form ahead of the Colombo Test after scoring a century in each of his past two innings. He has two centuries and a fifty in his past six Test innings. The new Indian captain has been in exceptional form with the bat since assuming the captaincy. In 10 Tests as captain, he has scored 1,100 runs at over 73, compared to 1,893 runs in 32 Tests before becoming skipper at an average of 35.

However, as with all good batters, there is a weak spot that needs to be shored up. Spin has been a particular weakness for Gill, and with two left-arm orthodox spinners in the Sri Lankan attack, there is no reason for him to believe that Colombo will not be a problem.

Jayasuriya cleaned up Gill in the last Test at Galle, and the in-form captain would be eager to put an end to the weak pattern against slow bowling. A big score against Sri Lanka would help India immensely in the WTC standings while also giving him a chance to assert his credentials as a Test opener.

However, Gill is not the only young batsman who needs to show the judges and critics that he belongs in the top echelon of Indian batting. While Gill has struggled against spin, Jaiswal has had issues against pace. The left-hander has had just one half-century in his past eight Test innings since his prolific century against the West Indies in New Delhi last year. In his previous two innings at Galle, he was run out without scoring and edged a short delivery from Asitha Fernando in the second Test in Colombo.

It seems as though almost every time he was at the crease during the recent series against Sri Lanka, he was trying to play a cut or loft shot. While he got good value from the cut against the spin bowling at Galle, it ended up being his Achilles' heel in Colombo. Jaiswal spent a considerable amount of time in the nets on Friday, with Morne Morkel and the pacemen attacking the channel outside off stump.

Jaiswal has been the subject of much criticism from the Indian fans in the wake of his two low scores in Colombo. However, he showed good temperament in the nets, refusing to chase the short deliveries and instead letting them go past him.

The real test for Jaiswal will be whether or not he can replicate the solidity he displayed in the nets against the fast bowling. If he can do that, and especially if he can channel some of that discipline into the WTC final, then a big score might just be around the corner.

Kuldeep Yadav's Place Under the Scanner

India will be looking to make a selection decision in their attack.

Kuldeep Yadav was not able to deliver the strike when it was needed most. The off-spinner could only manage one wicket from 25 overs bowled across the two innings in Galle, and was also India's most expensive bowler, conceding over four runs per over.

That could allow Saransh Jain to come into contention, which would make sense given that Sri Lanka will be fielding a number of left-handers, and he'd be a sensible tactical choice from that perspective.

But it would be a risky move considering he has not played a Test match before, and dropping him so soon after a single Test could be seen as an unfair reaction to a poor performance.

His absence from Friday's nets has already caused speculation about his place in the XI, though there is no doubt that it will be greatly influenced by the nature of the pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club. It has been watered heavily over the last two days so as to hold moisture and prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Sri Lanka's task is much simpler. They will be looking to bat out long periods of time, rather than trying to make the runs in bursts. That approach has not always served them well, particularly against the Indians attack.

They hope that the in-form Mishara and Arachchige will be able to provide the security that the first innings did not, but the hosts will also need to temper any natural aggression, especially against a tricky Indian attack.

Though Sri Lanka has home advantage, India will be coming into this game full of confidence, knowing they have won the last two Tests in style, and that a win here will be an outstanding achievement for Gill, who has been in superb form as captain. For Jaiswal, it will be a chance to finally put paid to a dismal run of scoring droughts.

Finally, it will be a chance to end their unhappy overseas campaign for India, and for them to finish things on a positive note.