A Sri Lanka Cricket XI reached 363 for eight on the opening day of a three-day warm-up match against India in Colombo, exposing the tourists’ bowling attack a week before the first Test of a two-match series.
India, captained by Shubman Gill, claimed four wickets in the final session after the hosts had built a strong position on a flat pitch at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground.
How did the day unfold?
Sri Lanka XI chose to bat. Openers Nishan Fernando and Ravindu Rasantha put on 110, making 66 and 71 respectively. Captain Sonal Dinusha added 52, and Ramesh Mendis contributed 32 in a seventh-wicket stand of 64.
Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar took two wickets each, with Gurnoor Brar claiming one. India took three quick wickets after lunch before Dinusha steadied the innings.
| Detail | Day one |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka XI | 363-8 |
| Top scorer | Ravindu Rasantha, 71 |
| Opening stand | 110 |
| Leading bowlers | Jadeja, Kuldeep, Suthar, two each |
When does India play Sri Lanka in 2026?
India are touring Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series beginning on 15 August 2026. The tour opened with a three-day warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, played from 7 to 9 August. On the opening day the hosts reached 363 for eight, with Ravindu Rasantha making 71, Nishan Fernando 66 and captain Sonal Dinusha 52. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar each took two wickets for India, who are captained on the tour by Shubman Gill. The warm-up is intended to help India prepare for spin-friendly conditions after recent home Test series defeats to New Zealand and South Africa exposed weaknesses against spin bowling.
Why does the warm-up matter?
India’s batting has been vulnerable against spin, with home Test series defeats to New Zealand and South Africa exposing the weakness. Conditions in Sri Lanka usually assist spinners, and the practice match is the squad’s only opportunity to adjust before the series.
Most of the touring party has limited experience of Test cricket in Sri Lanka. Outlook reported that India’s pace bowlers looked rusty after a five-week break, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struggling to find movement with the new ball.
Who is in the squad?
The touring party for the warm-up included Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Auqib Nabi, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar.
The spinners found assistance on the surface even as the batters scored freely, which is the balance India will expect across the Test series.
What comes next?
The warm-up runs to Sunday, after which the squad moves on to the Test series. India last toured Sri Lanka for Tests in 2015, winning a three-match series 2-1.
Sri Lanka have played little Test cricket at home this year. For the domestic players in the Sri Lanka Cricket XI, the fixture doubles as a selection opportunity ahead of the series.
The match is being played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club, one of several club grounds in Colombo that regularly host first-class cricket.
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Sources for this report
The Redline News Desk
The Redline News desk files and edits world reporting. Every story carries the sources it was built from, and corrections are published on the story itself.
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