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See the full story · 1 sourcesIndia vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI practice match: Scores, highlights and key performances ahead of IND vs SL Test series originally appeared on Cricket News .
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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.
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 familiarize 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.
India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI practice Test: Scores, highlights and top perfomers
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.
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 like to convert this performance for a big score and carry the momentum for the actual Tests.
With 11 fours and one six, Fernando has absolutely battered the Indian bowling attack so far as he raced to a fifty.
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.
Update: Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India's practice on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm-up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress. KL Rahul… https://t.co/Mzu2yW4OgX
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 7, 2026 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.
Match Date Venue Warm-up (3-day) Aug 7-9 NCC Ground, Colombo 1st Test Aug 15-19 Galle International Stadium, Galle 2nd Test Aug 23-27 Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook , Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
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