India to play three-day warm-up games instead of four-day in Sri Lanka
Colombo, Aug 1
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a change in the fixtures for India's tour of the country for a two-Test series, reducing by one day the duration of the warm-up match in the build-up to the start of the series.
The warm-up match has been reduced to three days instead of the originally scheduled four-day fixture.
"Team India will play a 3-day warm-up game instead of the originally scheduled four-day fixture. The warm-up fixture will commence on August 7 at the NCC Grounds, Colombo," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Indian team is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka on August 4.
The first Test will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS) from August 15 to 19, while the second match will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Stadium in Colombo, from August 23 to 27, the statement confirmed.
The statement did not give the reason why the duration of the match was reduced by one day or which of the two boards proposed this change.
Earlier, offspin all-rounder Saransh Jain was handed a maiden Test call-up and veteran spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also returned to the red-ball set-up for the first time since November 2025 as the BCCI announced the 15-man squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15.
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also made a return to the Test squad after the home series against South Africa last November, but the BCCI said his availability depends on fitness clearance after picking up an injury during the recent three-match ODI series in England.
Jadeja had been out of action since the IPL 2026 season after picking up a tennis elbow injury. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar, who is recovering from a right hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Lord's ODI, was not available for selection for the first Test, which opened the doors for Saransh's maiden call-up.
India's squad for Tests against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel [WK], Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain
— IANS
Reader Comments
A three-day game is actually better for Bumrah's fitness management. We don't want to overbowel him in a practice match and risk injury before the series. Smart move by the management, if that's the reason. But SLC should have provided the official rationale.
Why the sudden change? I hope this isn't some last-minute logistical issue. Anyway, the NCC ground is a decent venue. With Jadeja back and Saransh getting his maiden call-up, this will be a good test for our spin department. Looking forward to it.
As a cricket fan from the US, I have to say, these warm-up games rarely produce meaningful outcomes anyway. Three days is enough for the players to get a feel. India's squad looks strong on paper. Hope Bumrah passes the fitness test, he's crucial for us overseas.
It's a minor change, honestly. The key thing is whether our batters can handle spin on turning tracks in Galle and SSC. The warm-up game is just for time in the middle, not a hardcore test. Let's focus on the bigger picture – the World Test Championship points!
I don't get why they're cutting it short. If it's about the weather forecast, they should say so. Otherwise, why waste time? A shorter warm-up means less time for the likes of Padikkal and Saransh to prove themselves. BCCI is playing too fast and loose sometimes. Respectful criticism, of course.
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