India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026: Sri Lanka Cricket XI posted a strong total of 363/8 against India on the opening day of the three-day tour match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Friday. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the hosts’ side produced a solid batting display against India’s bowling attack.
The warm-up fixture, scheduled from August 7 to 9, is part of India’s preparation ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka. The match also provided Indian players an opportunity to get valuable game time in Sri Lankan conditions.
Sri Lanka Cricket XI Bat First After Winning Toss
Sri Lanka Cricket XI captain Sonal Dinusha elected to bat first after winning the toss. The home side made the most of the favourable batting conditions, building important partnerships throughout the day.
Openers Nishan Fernando and Ravindu Rasantha gave Sri Lanka XI a strong start with a 110-run opening partnership. Fernando scored a quick 66 runs from 65 balls, including 11 fours and one six, before being dismissed through a run out involving Suthar and Rahul.
Rasantha continued to anchor the innings and scored 71 runs from 143 deliveries. His patient knock included six fours and one six before Manav Suthar dismissed him for India’s third wicket.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nishan Fernando | 66 | 65 | 101.53 |
| Ravindu Rasantha | 71 | 143 | 49.65 |
| Pasindu Sooriyabandara | 35 | 63 | 55.55 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | 39 | 47 | 82.97 |
Indian Bowlers Strike Back After Strong Start
India managed to break partnerships at regular intervals but Sri Lanka XI continued to maintain the scoring rate. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav were among the most successful Indian bowlers on the opening day.
Suthar finished with figures of 2 wickets for 33 runs in 13 overs, providing India crucial breakthroughs with his accuracy and variations. Kuldeep Yadav also claimed two wickets, conceding 76 runs in 18 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja, returning to the Test setup, also made an impact by taking two wickets. He dismissed Pasindu Sooriyabandara for 35 and Ramesh Mendis for 32.
Day 1 Stumps: Sri Lanka XI in Strong Position
At the close of play, Sri Lanka Cricket XI remained in control with a score of 363/8 after 90 overs. Keshara Nuwantha was unbeaten on 9, while Dilum Sudeera was not out on 1 when stumps were drawn.
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Cricket XI | 363/8 | 90 overs |
Sri Lanka Cricket XI Build Strong Foundation After Electing to Bat
Sri Lanka Cricket XI made the most of favourable batting conditions at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The hosts showed patience against India’s bowling attack and reached a strong total of 363 for 8 at the end of the opening day’s play.
The innings was built around important contributions from multiple batters, with Nishan Fernando, Ravindu Rasantha and Sonal Dinusha leading the scoring effort. India’s bowlers managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals but could not prevent Sri Lanka Cricket XI from crossing the 350-run mark.
Nishan Fernando and Ravindu Rasantha Provide Solid Start
Opening batter Nishan Fernando gave Sri Lanka Cricket XI an aggressive beginning with a quick 66-run knock from 65 deliveries. His innings included 11 fours and one six, striking at 101.53.
Fernando’s attacking approach helped Sri Lanka Cricket XI put pressure on India’s bowlers early in the innings. However, his innings ended through a run out involving Suthar and Rahul, with the team losing its first wicket at 110 runs in the 20th over.
Ravindu Rasantha then anchored the innings with a composed 71 off 143 balls. The right-hander played a patient innings, hitting six fours and one six before Manav Suthar dismissed him in the 49th over.
Rasantha attempted to take on Suthar’s bowling but failed to get enough distance on his shot, allowing India to break the partnership and claim a crucial wicket.
Middle Order Contributions Keep Sri Lanka Moving
Pasindu Sooriyabandara added valuable runs with a 35-run contribution before Ravindra Jadeja removed him. The left-arm spinner bowled a delivery that skidded through and hit the stumps after Sooriyabandara misjudged the shot.
Pavan Rathnayake continued the momentum with a quick 39 off 47 balls. His innings featured three fours and two sixes before Gurnoor Brar dismissed him using the short-ball strategy.
Ahan Wickramasinghe scored 31 runs before becoming Kuldeep Yadav’s first victim of the day. The batter attempted a sweep but ended up giving a catch to Gurnoor Brar at short fine leg.
Sonal Dinusha Leads Late Resistance
Sri Lanka Cricket XI captain Sonal Dinusha played a crucial innings in the lower middle order, scoring 52 runs from 72 deliveries. His knock included five fours and one six.
Dinusha’s innings helped Sri Lanka Cricket XI recover after losing wickets during the middle phase. However, Manav Suthar dismissed him late in the day with a full delivery that trapped him leg before wicket.
Ramesh Mendis also contributed with a useful 32-run innings before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him with a sharp catch taken by Devdutt Padikkal.
India Bowling Performance
India used a combination of pace and spin during the opening day, with spinners making the biggest impact. Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja claimed two wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav also picked up two dismissals.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manav Suthar | 13 | 33 | 2 | 2.53 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 15 | 64 | 2 | 4.26 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 18 | 76 | 2 | 4.22 |
| Gurnoor Brar | 12 | 49 | 1 | 4.08 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 8 | 32 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 13 | 44 | 0 | 3.38 |
Day 1 Session Report: Sri Lanka Cricket XI Finish Strong
The opening day of the three-day tour match between Sri Lanka Cricket XI and India at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo belonged largely to the hosts, who posted 363 for 8 after 90 overs.
Sri Lanka Cricket XI started positively after captain Sonal Dinusha won the toss and decided to bat first. India’s bowling attack created opportunities throughout the day, but the home side’s batters produced important partnerships to keep the scoreboard moving.
| Session | Key Developments |
|---|---|
| Morning Session | Sri Lanka Cricket XI made a confident start, with Nishan Fernando and Ravindu Rasantha building a strong opening partnership. Fernando scored a quick half-century before being dismissed through a run out. |
| Afternoon Session | India’s spinners brought control into the game. Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav picked up important wickets but Sri Lanka continued to add runs through the middle order. |
| Evening Session | Sonal Dinusha and Ramesh Mendis guided Sri Lanka towards a strong total. India claimed late wickets but the hosts finished the day at 363/8. |
Fall of Wickets: Sri Lanka Cricket XI 1st Innings
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 110 | Nishan Fernando | 20.4 |
| 2nd | 171 | Pasindu Sooriyabandara | 40.4 |
| 3rd | 201 | Ravindu Rasantha | 49.1 |
| 4th | 246 | Pavan Rathnayake | 59.3 |
| 5th | 250 | Ahan Wickramasinghe | 60.4 |
| 6th | 284 | Anjala Bandara | 71.1 |
| 7th | 347 | Ramesh Mendis | 85.1 |
| 8th | 354 | Sonal Dinusha | 87.4 |
Sri Lanka Cricket XI Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nishan Fernando | Run out (Suthar/Rahul) | 66 | 65 | 101.53 |
| Ravindu Rasantha | c sub (V Nigam) b Manav Suthar | 71 | 143 | 49.65 |
| Pasindu Sooriyabandara | b Ravindra Jadeja | 35 | 63 | 55.55 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | c Padikkal b Gurnoor Brar | 39 | 47 | 82.97 |
| Ahan Wickramasinghe | c Gurnoor Brar b Kuldeep Yadav | 31 | 43 | 72.09 |
| Sonal Dinusha (c) | lbw b Manav Suthar | 52 | 72 | 72.22 |
| Anjala Bandara (wk) | lbw b Kuldeep Yadav | 13 | 35 | 37.14 |
| Ramesh Mendis | c Padikkal b Ravindra Jadeja | 32 | 49 | 65.30 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | Not Out | 9 | 20 | 45.00 |
| Dilum Sudeera | Not Out | 1 | 5 | 20.00 |
Extras: 14 (b 6, lb 5, nb 2, w 1)
Total: Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363/8 in 90 overs (Run Rate: 4.03)
India’s Spin Trio Controls Middle Overs
India’s spin department played a key role in restricting Sri Lanka Cricket XI from reaching an even bigger total. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar combined for six wickets.
Jadeja provided breakthroughs with his experience, removing Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Ramesh Mendis. Kuldeep troubled the batters with variations and picked up two wickets, while young spinner Manav Suthar impressed with his accuracy and returned figures of 2 for 33.
Ravindra Jadeja Returns With Strong Performance
The warm-up match also marked Ravindra Jadeja’s return to action ahead of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka. The all-rounder made an impact with both control and wicket-taking ability.
Jadeja has enjoyed considerable success against Sri Lanka in international cricket. In seven Tests against Sri Lanka, he has scored 326 runs in nine innings at an average of 65.20 and taken 33 wickets at an average of 23.72.
Across 48 international matches against Sri Lanka, Jadeja has accumulated 791 runs and claimed 66 wickets, highlighting his effectiveness against the island nation.
India Squad for Sri Lanka Tour: Full Team Details
India entered the three-day warm-up match with a 15-member squad featuring a mix of experienced international players and emerging talents. The match provided an opportunity for players to prepare for the upcoming Test assignment in Sri Lanka conditions.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Batter |
| KL Rahul | Vice-Captain |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| Sai Sudharsan | Batter |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner |
| Manav Suthar | Spinner |
| Mohammed Siraj | Fast Bowler |
| Prasidh Krishna | Fast Bowler |
| Gurnoor Brar | Fast Bowler |
| Saransh Jain | Bowling All-rounder |
| Auqib Nabi | Bowling Option |
Match Details: India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Warm-up Game
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka Cricket XI vs India |
| Series | India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Match Type | Three-day Tour Match |
| Date | August 7-9, 2026 |
| Venue | Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo |
| Day 1 Result | Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363/8 after 90 overs |
| Toss | Sri Lanka Cricket XI elected to bat first |
Day 1 Analysis: Sri Lanka Batters Test India’s Bowling Depth
Sri Lanka Cricket XI’s first-day performance provided valuable match practice ahead of India’s upcoming Test commitments in the country. The hosts displayed a balanced approach, combining aggressive stroke play with periods of controlled batting.
Nishan Fernando’s attacking half-century gave Sri Lanka early momentum, while Ravindu Rasantha’s long stay at the crease helped build the foundation. Later, Sonal Dinusha ensured that the innings maintained its strength during the final sessions.
For India, the performance of the spin bowlers was a positive sign. Conditions in Colombo traditionally offer assistance to spinners, and the trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep and Suthar successfully created pressure by bowling consistent lines.
Key Performers From Day 1
- Nishan Fernando: Scored 66 runs from 65 balls and provided an attacking start for Sri Lanka Cricket XI.
- Ravindu Rasantha: Played a patient 71-run innings to stabilize the middle phase.
- Sonal Dinusha: Added an important 52 runs as captain to strengthen the total.
- Manav Suthar: Returned the best bowling figures for India with 2 wickets for 33 runs.
- Ravindra Jadeja: Picked up two wickets and provided control in the middle overs.
- Kuldeep Yadav: Claimed two wickets and tested the Sri Lankan batters with his variations.
What to Expect on Day 2
With Sri Lanka Cricket XI finishing the opening day at 363 for 8, India will look to wrap up the innings quickly when play resumes. The focus will then shift to India’s batting unit, which includes several experienced names such as Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.
The warm-up match will provide India’s batters with crucial preparation time against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack before the main international fixtures begin.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Importance Ahead of Test Series
Ravindra Jadeja remains one of India’s most important players in overseas Test conditions where spin is expected to play a significant role. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives India additional balance in the playing combination.
Having already established a strong record against Sri Lanka, Jadeja’s performance in this tour match will provide confidence ahead of the longer format challenges.
