India back in Sri Lanka after 9 years: Spinners strike late as SL XI posts 363/8 on Day 1

Colombo: India's red-ball squad has officially begun its first fixture on Sri Lankan soil in nine years, taking on a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on 7 August 2026. The fixture marks India's first red-ball appearance in the island nation since Virat Kohli’s side completed a dominant 3-0 Test series sweep in 2017.

A Changing of the Guard

The current touring party is vastly different from the 2017 squad. Only three players in the present 15-man squad—KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—have previously played Test cricket in Sri Lanka. Led by captain Shubman Gill, India's young core is stepping into largely unfamiliar territory for a two-Test series that carries critical weight in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings.

Day One Warm-Up Highlights

The three-day warm-up match provided India's bowling attack with an immediate workout in subcontinental conditions. Sri Lanka XI reached 363/8 at stumps on Day 1. After the hosts mounted a century opening partnership, India’s spin trio fought back impressively in the afternoon and evening sessions.

Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar collected two wickets apiece, whilst paceman Gurnoor Brar claimed one breakthrough. Stand-in warm-up skipper KL Rahul rotated the bowling options extensively to help the squad adapt to the local heat and humidity.

Preparations for Galle

The official Test series gets underway at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on 15 August, before concluding at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo on 23 August.

With Sri Lankan surfaces notorious for offering sharp turn and bounce from day three onwards, India's next-generation batters—including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan—will look to maximise their batting stints over the remainder of the warm-up match. Having not played a red-ball match in Sri Lanka since 2017, the Indian management views this tour fixture as a vital stepping stone towards extending their winning Test record on Sri Lankan soil.