India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI practice match: Scores, highlights and key performances ahead of IND vs SL Test series

India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI practice match: Scores, highlights and key performances ahead of IND vs SL Test series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

India begins their Sri Lanka tour with a three-day warm-up against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo.

Sri Lanka won the toss in the practice game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground.

India will be playing without Shubman Gill, who sustained an injury to his right ring finger on Thursday.

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Team India gets ready for the Test series in Sri Lanka

India have kicked off their red-ball tour of Sri Lanka with a three-day warm-up fixture in Colombo, giving Shubman Gill's side valuable time to familiarise themselves with the conditions before the Tests. The game marks the start of a crucial assignment for a team under pressure after a difficult run in the shorter format.

India's struggles in the longest format have also been well-documented, with three series defeats in the last two years. So it's no surprise India will treat the practice match as an important chance to fine-tune combinations. The absence of injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah adds to the need for the tourists to settle their bowling attack on subcontinental surfaces.

In addition to this, the fixture also offers a first look at India's uncapped contingent, with Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain in line for game time, alongside the return of Ravindra Jadeja to competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026.

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The three-day practice match is being played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, starting on August 7. Originally scheduled as a four-day contest, it was trimmed to three days, with play each day beginning at 10:00 am local time, which is also 10:00 am IST.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first in the warm-up fixture, which is being led by Sonal Dinusha for the hosts, with seven members of the wider Sri Lanka Test set-up featuring in the XI. For India, Sai Sudharsan's involvement is subject to fitness, with Devdutt Padikkal a candidate to bat at number three in his absence.

The game serves as the sole red-ball hit-out before the two-Test series, which begins with the first Test in Galle on August 15, followed by the second in Colombo, and offers Gill's side their only opportunity to adjust to spinning conditions beforehand.

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India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI practice Test: Scores, highlights and top performers

Toss: Sri Lanka has won the toss and has chosen to bat first. The hosts didn't have the best year in the longest format themselves and are sure to use this chance to show where their batters are right now.

Kuldeep Yadav and Gurnoor Brar get a wicket each

The duo of Yadav and Brar quickly dismissed the duo of Pavan Rathnayake and Ahan Wickramasinghe to send half of the Sri Lankan batting order to the dressing room.

Manav Suthar justifies his selection in the squad

With Ransantha looking to convert his 50 into a big score, Team India needed a breakthrough. And Manav Suthar provided that during the afternoon session after he dismissed the Sri Lankan opener after taking the catch himself.

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Ravindra Jadeja gets the breakthrough for the Indians

After a partnership that looked like it was heading towards a big score, Ravindra Jadeja was finally able to send Pasindu Soriyabandara back to the pavillion after bowling him out.

With an economy of just 4.00, Jadeja has been showing signs of his old brilliance as India try to take more wickets before the session ends.

Ravindu Ransantha continues to give a tough time to Indian bowling attack

While Fernando might have been run out, Ravindu Rasantha continues to steal quick runs from the Indian bowlers with some great running between the wickets.

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While his start might be slow compared to his opening partner's, Rasantha has managed to hold Sri Lanka's innings, giving Pasindu Sooriyabandara free rein to hammer the boundaries.

Nishan Fernando gives Sri Lanka the start they needed at home

Sri Lanka has done well to survive the bowling attack of Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Siraj, and Fernando has been a big part of that. The opening batter has continued to hammer the Indian bowling attack for boundaries.

After a bleak year that saw his return to the longest format after nearly 18 months, the opener failed to even reach a half-century. He would have liked to convert this performance for a big score and carry the momentum for the actual Tests.

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With 11 fours and one six, Fernando has absolutely battered the Indian bowling attack so far as he raced to a fifty before getting run out on 66 off 65.

Shubman Gill unavailable for Day 1 of practice match due to injury

The absence of skipper Gill for Day 1 of the practice Test has also been announced by the BCCI ahead of Sri Lanka XI's innings. The Indian skipper has reportedly suffered an injury to his right ring finger.

The injury happened during yesterday's practice, and as a precautionary measure, he has opted out for the fielding duties. "KL Rahul will lead the team in Gill's absence," BCCI confirmed.

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India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 full schedule

The practice game is the first of three fixtures on India's tour, followed by the two Tests that form part of the World Test Championship cycle. The full schedule and venues are below.

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