India captain Shubman Gill was back at the nets on Sunday, offering a positive sign ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Gill batted with his right ring finger heavily taped after sustaining an impact injury to it during practice earlier in the week.

He also took part in warm-up drills, initially using only his left hand as the medical staff continued monitoring his recovery.

India’s team management has not officially confirmed his availability for the first Test, but his return to batting is being viewed as encouraging.

Gill had missed Day 1 of India’s three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI as a precaution, with vice-captain KL Rahul leading the side.

The opening Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15 at Galle International Stadium, leaving just under a week for his recovery.

Devdutt Padikkal was the standout performer in the warm-up match, finishing unbeaten on 142 in India’s successful run chase after also scoring a century in the first innings.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has overseen India’s preparation throughout the tour, with the squad using the Colombo fixture specifically to adjust to sub-continental batting and bowling conditions.

Gill sustained the impact injury to his right ring finger during India’s practice session on Thursday, prompting the BCCI to rule him out of Day 1 of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI as a precaution.

The BCCI said in a statement that its medical team was monitoring Gill’s progress, without immediately confirming a timeline for his return to full training or match action.

India completed their three-day warm-up fixture against Sri Lanka XI with a six-wicket win on August 9, with vice-captain KL Rahul leading the side throughout Gill’s absence.

The opening Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on August 15 at Galle International Stadium, giving Gill just under a week for his finger to recover further.

Photo by CRICKETNEXT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

India beat Sri Lanka XI by six wickets in their three-day warm-up match in Colombo, chasing down a target of 207 to reach 214 for 4 in 45 overs.

Sri Lanka XI set the target after declaring their second innings at 200 for 6, following a first-innings total of 363 for 8 declared.

Devdutt Padikkal starred with an unbeaten 142 in the chase, adding to a century he had already scored in India’s first innings.

Ravindra Jadeja made a useful half-century, while Mohammed Siraj sealed the win with three consecutive sixes as part of an unbeaten 32 off 15 balls.

In Sri Lanka XI’s second innings, Jadeja and Harpreet Brar took two wickets each, with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claiming one apiece.

The win completes India’s preparation before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, 2026, with captain Shubman Gill’s finger injury still under assessment.

The fixture was played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, a venue India’s squad used specifically to acclimatise to sub-continental batting and bowling conditions ahead of the series.

India’s first innings had ended at 357 for 6, in reply to Sri Lanka XI’s first innings total of 363 for 8 declared, before Sri Lanka XI batted again and declared their second innings at 200 for 6.

Ravindra Jadeja and Harpreet Brar picked up two wickets each in Sri Lanka XI’s second innings, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket apiece as India worked through the chase target.

Padikkal’s unbeaten 142 came after he had already registered a century in India’s first innings of the match, giving him a prolific outing with the bat across the three-day fixture.

The warm-up win concludes India’s preparation in Colombo before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, 2026, with captain Shubman Gill’s finger injury still being assessed by the BCCI medical team.

Photo by Anand Anil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India posted 168 for 2 with Devdutt Padikkal scoring a century in reply to Sri Lanka XI’s first innings total of 363 for 8 declared, on day two of the Colombo warm-up match.

Sri Lanka XI’s innings was built around half-centuries from Nishan Fernando (66) and Ravindu Rasantha (71), and 52 from captain Sonal Dinusha, before India’s spinners closed out the innings.

India’s reply began with an early setback as Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a two-ball duck in the second over by Vishwa Fernando, before KL Rahul and Padikkal added 96 runs.

Rahul scored 40 off 67 balls with five fours and a six before being dismissed, while Padikkal went on to his century after surviving a dropped chance off his own bowling the ball before.

India trailed by 195 runs as the match continued, with the tourists building toward a stronger reply.

The fixture is India’s final preparation before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, 2026, with captain Shubman Gill’s finger injury still under assessment.

Vice-captain KL Rahul has continued to lead the side through the warm-up fixture, with head coach Gautam Gambhir overseeing preparations for a squad featuring several relatively new faces in the Test set-up.

Sri Lanka XI had declared their first innings at 363 for 8 on day one, with Nishan Fernando making 66, Ravindu Rasantha 71, captain Sonal Dinusha 52 and Ramesh Mendis 32.

Kuldeep Yadav finished with figures of 2 for 76 for India, while Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar also picked up wickets as India’s spinners shared the workload against Sri Lanka XI’s middle order.

Jaiswal’s dismissal for a two-ball duck, bowled by Vishwa Fernando in the second over, gave Sri Lanka XI an early breakthrough before Rahul and Padikkal steadied India’s reply.

The three-day warm-up fixture at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo is India’s final assignment before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, 2026.

Photo by Storm machine, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0