Indian squad intensifies preparations for Sri Lanka Tests

By Sanjay Menon — 6 August 2026 — 3 min read

The Indian cricket team has begun its preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasizing thorough readiness for every challenge. The team is currently training in Colombo and is set to play a warm-up match before the first Test.

Gambhir addressed the squad, including captain Shubman Gill, stressing the importance of being mentally and physically prepared. He urged the players to ensure all aspects of their game are covered, stating, “Come 15th morning, whether we are batting first, or whether we are bowling first, we’re absolutely ready with every answer, every question that’s thrown at us and every answer we’re ready to give.” This message was delivered in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Intensive Training and Warm-up Fixture

The Indian team commenced training at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) ground in Colombo on Wednesday. This training period will be followed by a three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI, scheduled from August 7 to 9. This fixture is considered crucial, particularly given India’s recent difficulties against spin bowling.

Following the warm-up, the squad will travel to Galle for the first Test, which is set to begin on August 15. The second and final Test of the series will be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, from August 23 to 27.

Several key batters, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have already been working on improving their game against spin bowling prior to their arrival in Sri Lanka. The warm-up match is expected to provide valuable exposure to the local conditions, which are typically spin-friendly.

For many members of the current squad, this series marks their first experience playing red-ball cricket in Sri Lanka. Only a few players, namely KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, have prior Test experience in the island nation.

Strengthening Spin Options and Welcoming Newcomers

To further bolster their preparations, especially against spin, India has called up four domestic spinners to serve as net bowlers. This quartet includes spin all-rounder Harsh Dubey, left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar, off-spinner Tanush Kotian, and leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam. Their inclusion aims to help the batters refine their skills against various types of spin, despite the main squad already featuring four specialist spinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Saransh Jain.

Gambhir also took the opportunity during a team meeting to welcome new additions to the squad. These include players Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi, as well as the newly appointed fielding coach, Subhadeep Ghosh. Gambhir congratulated Saransh Jain for his hard work and Auqib Nabi for his performance in the previous season, which saw J&K win the Ranji Trophy. He also expressed confidence that Ghosh’s passion and commitment would benefit the team.

The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. India currently holds the fifth position in the standings with a points percentage of 48.150, placing them one spot above Sri Lanka, who are sixth with 41.67.

However, the Indian team is facing some injury concerns ahead of the series. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to a knee injury, as he has not fully recovered. Additionally, Washington Sundar will miss the opening Test because of a hamstring issue. Other players, including Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep, are also unavailable for the series. The first Test in Galle is scheduled to commence on August 15.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com