India got almost everything they wanted from their final practice outing before the Sri Lanka Test series, securing a convincing win over the Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. More than the result, the three-day game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground served as an important dress rehearsal for Shubman Gill’s side. With the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning in Galle on August 15, India needed their key players to spend time in the middle, understand the conditions and settle their combinations.
And on the final day, two of India’s most important batters — Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill — made sure the practice session counted.
Jaiswal, Gill get crucial time in the middle
Jaiswal and Gill were among the biggest talking points on the final day as India used the opportunity to give their top-order batters extended time at the crease.
Jaiswal reached a half-century before retiring, allowing the management to manage his workload while giving another batter an opportunity. Gill also moved smoothly towards his fifty before ending his innings, with the Indian camp primarily interested in match practice rather than individual milestones. The decision to give the pair substantial time at the top also underlined India’s priority ahead of the Test series: establishing rhythm before facing Sri Lanka’s attack in a competitive match.
Padikkal strengthens his case
If Jaiswal and Gill provided reassurance, Devdutt Padikkal emerged as one of the biggest winners of the practice match.
Padikkal produced a superb unbeaten 142, showing patience and control over a long innings. His hundred is particularly significant because India still have selection questions to settle in the top and middle order following Sai Sudharsan’s absence.The left-hander’s knock has therefore given the team management another serious option heading into the first Test.
India tested themselves against a sizeable first-innings total
The Sri Lanka Cricket XI gave India a useful examination after putting up 363/8 in 90 overs in their first innings.
India responded with 357/8 in 90 overs, leaving themselves only six runs behind at the end of the second day. Padikkal’s unbeaten 142 was the standout contribution, while Gurnoor Brar provided an entertaining late cameo of 36 off 18 balls, including four sixes in the final over.
That response was valuable because India’s batters were forced to spend considerable time in the middle rather than merely chasing a small practice-game total.
Bowlers provide the final push
The match also gave India’s bowling group valuable overs in Sri Lankan conditions. Ravindra Jadeja finished the first innings with 2/64, while Manav Suthar claimed 2 wickets for 33 runs. The bowlers were able to test different lengths and plans on a surface that offered useful preparation for the conditions expected during the Test series.
Mohammed Siraj then produced one of the most eye-catching moments of the final day, finishing the chase in style and adding another positive to India’s preparation.
Why this warm-up matters for India
The practice game was never about chasing a conventional first-class result. India used it as a laboratory before the real examination.
The team needed:
Jaiswal to spend time at the crease.
Gill to regain match rhythm and confidence.
Padikkal to strengthen his case for a Test spot.
Jadeja and the other bowlers to get valuable overs.
The wider squad to adapt to Colombo’s conditions.
The management to gather one final set of clues before deciding the Test combination.
India’s preparations have also come with selection and fitness concerns. Sai Sudharsan is unavailable for the series, while Washington Sundar and other squad members have faced fitness issues. That makes Padikkal’s 142 even more important from a selection perspective.
The bigger picture
India’s victory in the warm-up will not count towards the World Test Championship standings, but its value could become apparent when the first Test begins.
The side has not played a Test series in Sri Lanka since 2017, making adaptation particularly important. The two-Test series begins in Galle from August 15-19, followed by the second Test in Colombo from August 23-27.
For Gill’s young Test side, the warm-up delivered exactly what a preparation match should: time at the crease for the important batters, a major hundred from a player fighting for his place, and overs for the bowling attack.
Now the practice is over. The real test begins in Galle.
Match Snapshot
Fixture: Sri Lanka Cricket XI vs India, Warm-up Match
Venue: Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo
Sri Lanka Cricket XI: 363/8
India: 357/8 in first innings
India: Won the practice match after chasing the target on the final day
Devdutt Padikkal: 142*
Gurnoor Brar: 36 off 18 balls
Ravindra Jadeja: 2/64
Manav Suthar: 2/33
Note: As this was a warm-up/tour fixture, the result is primarily relevant to India’s preparation and does not carry the same official significance as an international Test.
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