India, Aug. 11 -- Former Sri Lanka pacer Farveez Maharoof believes Gurnoor Brar could provide India with a much-needed edge in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle, Maharoof backed the young Punjab speedster to make his Test debut later this week. The Shubman Gill-led side has odds stacked against them, and the side must win seven of their remaining nine Tests to have any chance of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The visitors have been plagued by injuries, with Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana all ruled out of the series. Washington Sundar is also expected to play no part in the two-Test contest.

Mohammed Siraj is expected to spearhead...