Team India’s warm-up game ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played against a local XI from the Island nation, has been shortened by a day. According to a report by Cricbuzz on Saturday, August 1, the initial four-day fixture will now be a three-day affair, scheduled to take place from August 7 to 9. The contest will be played at the NCC Ground, located close to the SSC Stadium in Colombo.
Meanwhile, the Indian side is slated to leave for Colombo on August 4. After the warm-up game, the visitors will then travel to Galle, which will host the opening Test from August 15 to 19. The second and final Test is scheduled to be held in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
Additionally, Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah, whose participation is subject to fitness clearance, are reportedly recovering well. Sudharsan has been nursing a toe niggle, while Bumrah has been recovering from a knee issue that he suffered during the three-match away ODI series against England last month.
India’s 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is as follows: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan*, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, and Saransh Jain.
India occupy fifth spot in WTC 2025-27 standings
As India gear up for the Sri Lanka tour, Shubman Gill’s side will aim to make a strong statement and improve their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings, where they currently sit fifth with a points percentage (PCT) of 48.15.
Meanwhile, India have enjoyed considerable success against Sri Lanka, with the two sides having faced each other in 46 Tests. India have won 22 of those matches, while Sri Lanka have secured seven victories, with the remaining 17 ending in draws. Additionally, India will draw confidence from their last tour of Sri Lanka in 2017, when Virat Kohli’s side whitewashed the hosts 3-0 in the three-match series.
Edited by Dev Sharma