Shubman Gill absent as Sri Lanka XI post 138/1 in India warm-up

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill was absent on day one of a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

Gill suffered an impact injury to his right ring finger in Thursday’s practice session, with vice-captain KL Rahul stepping in to lead the team.

Sri Lanka XI elected to bat first after winning the toss and reached 138 for 1 at lunch, powered by an opening stand between Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha.

India’s line-up included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, captain KL Rahul, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.

The warm-up fixture is helping India adjust to sub-continental conditions ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15, 2026.

Gill’s fitness will be reassessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the rest of the practice game and the series opener.

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.

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.

Photo by CRICKETNEXT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0