The Ind vs Sri Lanka Warm Up Match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo started with a major setback for India. Captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the first day's play due to a finger injury.
KL Rahul stepped in as captain. Sri Lanka XI won the toss and chose to bat first. The decision paid off handsomely in the opening session. India's bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, and the hosts made them pay.
Toss and Team News: Gill Sits Out, Rahul Takes Charge
The news came as a shock to Indian fans. Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during a practice session on Thursday. The BCCI medical team is keeping a close watch on his recovery.
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He was rested as a precautionary measure. This is a significant blow for India, as Gill has been in exceptional form across formats.
KL Rahul Leads India
KL Rahul walked out for the toss in Gill's absence. This is a massive opportunity for the seasoned batter to showcase his leadership skills. The last time India played a Test series in Sri Lanka was back in 2017.
Only Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja have previous Test experience in Sri Lanka from the current squad. The rest of the team will be looking to prove their mettle in unfamiliar conditions.
Sri Lanka XI's Decision
Sonal Dinusha captained the Sri Lanka XI. He had no hesitation in choosing to bat first. The hosts clearly wanted to exploit the batting conditions early and put India's bowling attack under pressure. The Sri Lanka XI squad includes seven members from the wider Test setup, making this a fiercely competitive warm-up fixture.
Sri Lanka's Opening Salvo: A Century Stand That Demolished India's Attack
The first session was a nightmare for India. Sri Lanka's openers walked out with clear intent. They were cautious initially, but the India bowlers offered them no real threat. The ball was not doing much, and the track looked placid.
Madushka and Rasantha Dominate
Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha faced the new ball with confidence. They saw off the early overs without any alarms. The pair started rotating the strike and then began to score freely.
They raised a massive century partnership for the first wicket. India's bowlers toiled hard on a flat deck. Mohammed Siraj bowled with his usual energy but could not find the edge. Prasidh Krishna struggled for consistency. The part-timers were also ineffective.
Madushka's Explosive Fifty
Nishan Madushka played a breathtaking innings. He reached his half-century in style and never looked back. The pitch did not offer any significant turn or bounce, and the pace bowlers lacked penetration. The stand-in captain KL Rahul used as many as six different bowling options in the first session. Nothing worked.
Madushka Punishes the Bad Balls
Madushka was particularly severe on loose deliveries. His 66 off just 65 balls came with 11 fours and a massive six. He dominated the India attack. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled ten wicketless overs between them. The frustration was visible on the field.
Rasantha Anchors the Innings
Ravindu Rasantha played the perfect second fiddle. He did not try to force the pace. He rotated the strike and waited for loose deliveries. His half-century came off 81 balls. His patience was a contrast to Madushka's aggression. The pair had put Sri Lanka in complete control by the time lunch approached.
India's Bowling Struggles
The Indian attack looked toothless. The spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja, were introduced later, but the opening partnership had already inflicted serious damage.
The field placements were questioned, and the bowlers failed to exploit the morning moisture. It was a batting paradise, and Sri Lanka made the most of it.
The Breakthrough: A Run Out Finally Breaks the Stand
India finally got their first breakthrough, but it came from the fielding department rather than the bowlers. Nishan Madushka, who was batting with supreme confidence, was caught short of his crease.
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It was a direct hit. The partnership was broken at 110 runs. The relief on the Indian faces was palpable.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara Walks In
Pasindu Sooriyabandara walked in at number three. He started cautiously and soon found his rhythm. He built a steady partnership with Rasantha. The momentum Sri Lanka had built was not lost.
Lunch on Day 1: Sri Lanka in Complete Command
At lunch, Sri Lanka XI reached a commanding 138/1. The opening session belonged entirely to the hosts. Madushka had scored a stunning 66 off 65 balls. Rasantha was unbeaten on 65 from 81 deliveries. India had no answers. The Ind vs SL Warm up match highlights from the first session were all about Sri Lankan dominance.
Post-Lunch Session: Jadeja Strikes, India Fights Back
The second session began with renewed hope for India. KL Rahul needed a breakthrough. He turned to his most experienced bowler.
Jadeja Delivers the Breakthrough
Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack. He struck almost immediately. He bowled a delivery that skidded through after pitching. Pasindu Sooriyabandara misjudged the length while attempting a pull shot. He saw his stumps shattered. He departed for a patient 35 off 63 balls.
This was the wicket India desperately needed. The Ind vs SL Warm up match suddenly had a new dimension. India had clawed their way back.
Score After Jadeja's Strike
After Jadeja's strike, the score was 171/2. Pavan Rathnayake walked in as the new batter. He had a job to do: rebuild the innings with the well-set Rasantha.
Spinners Get Into the Act
India continued to attack with spin. Saransh Jain was given his first bowl of the innings. He tested the Sri Lankan batters with his left-arm spin. The pitch was beginning to show signs of turn. The Indian spinners started asking more questions.
Sri Lanka Steady, But India Fighting Back
Despite the loss of two wickets, Sri Lanka remained in a strong position. Ravindu Rasantha continued to anchor the innings. He moved into the 60s. At the time of writing, Sri Lanka XI had reached 180/2 in 44 overs. The visitors had lost their openers, but the scoreboard was still moving.
Key Performances and Takeaways
Sri Lanka XI
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Nishan Madushka (66 off 65): A stunning knock with 11 fours and a six. He attacked from the start.
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Ravindu Rasantha (65*): The anchor. He held the innings together with a patient, assured knock.
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Pasindu Sooriyabandara (35 off 63): Played a valuable supporting role. He was looking good until Jadeja struck.
India
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Ravindra Jadeja (1/??): Delivered the crucial breakthrough in the second session.
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KL Rahul: Made several bowling changes to find a wicket but had to wait.
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Bowling Concerns: The pace attack of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna looked ineffective in the first session. India needs a much-improved performance on Day 2.
What to Expect on Day 2?
India will be eager to bowl out Sri Lanka XI quickly on Day 2. They will then aim for valuable batting practice. The focus will be on the Indian batters, especially the top order, to spend time at the crease against the Sri Lankan spinners.
The Ind vs SL test warm up is a crucial opportunity for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Rishabh Pant to get some runs under their belt before the serious business of the Test series begins.
