Overview
- The three-day, non‑first‑class warm-up at Nondescripts Cricket Club began on August 7 and Sri Lanka XI closed Day 1 at 363 for 8, giving India a full view of the spin on offer.
- Captain Shubman Gill was struck on his right ring finger in practice and was rested for Day 1 with KL Rahul deputising while the BCCI medical team monitors him.
- A BCCI source told ANI that Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the two‑Test tour with a foot injury, a reported development that forces India to consider a new No. 3 option.
- Jasprit Bumrah was already unavailable with a knee problem so Mohammed Siraj is leading the pace attack in Colombo while spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja and young seamers are being given match time.
- Rain threatens further practice over the weekend, the warm-up allows all 15 squad members to play without first‑class status, and Sri Lanka Cricket has announced free entry for the two Tests which begin on August 15 with live coverage in India on Sony/SonyLIV.