India’s Test captain Shubman Gill missed the opening day of a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.
Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during Thursday’s practice, and vice-captain KL Rahul led the team in his absence.
Sri Lanka XI won the toss, chose to bat first, and reached 138 for 1 at lunch behind a strong opening partnership between Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha.
India’s playing XI included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, captain KL Rahul, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.
The warm-up match is part of India’s preparation for sub-continental conditions ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, 2026.
Gill’s finger injury will be assessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the rest of the practice match and the series opener.
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.
The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will be India’s first assignment on the tour, following which the squad’s schedule for the remainder of the year is expected to be finalised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Photo by CRICKETNEXT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
