India’s Test captain Shubman Gill did not take the field on the opening day of a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Friday.
Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during practice on Thursday, and vice-captain KL Rahul led the side in his absence.
Sri Lanka XI won the toss and elected to bat first, reaching 138 for 1 at lunch as openers Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha built a solid partnership against India’s bowlers.
India’s playing XI for the fixture included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul as captain, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper and Ravindra Jadeja.
The warm-up match forms part of India’s preparation for sub-continental conditions ahead of a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026.
Gill’s fitness will continue to be assessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the rest of the practice match and the opening Test.
India’s playing XI for the warm-up fixture featured Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul as captain, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, and Ravindra Jadeja among others.
The warm-up match is being used by India’s squad to acclimatise to sub-continental conditions ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15, 2026.
Gill, who was named India’s Test captain for the tour, is expected to be assessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the remainder of the three-day practice match and the Test series opener.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir is overseeing the young Indian squad’s preparations, with the tour marking an early assignment for several newer faces in the Test set-up.
Sri Lanka XI’s openers Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha made full use of a lack of early movement for India’s pace bowlers on a surface offering little assistance in the opening session.
Photo by CRICKETNEXT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
