Shubman Gill-led India arrive in Sri Lanka, will play three-day warm up match before Test series
New Delhi: Shubman Gill-led Indian team arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, August 4, ahead of their two-match Test series against the hosts. India will play a three-day warm-up match in before the Test series gets underway on August 15. The Indian team reached the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo at 3:50 PM on Tuesday.
will lock horns with Sri Lanka XI in a warm-up match which is scheduled to be played between August 07 and 09. The warm-up match will be played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground in Colombo. It was initially scheduled to be a four-day game before Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to revise it to a three-day contest.
Capturing smiles and creating travel memories on the way to Colombo 😁🎞️#TeamIndia have arrived in Sri Lanka 🛬#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/TuRFOW4gIw
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 5, 2026
Sai Sudharsan yet to arrive in Sri Lanka
Left-hand batter Sai Sudharsan is yet to arrive in Sri Lanka as he didn’t travel with the rest of the Indian squad on Tuesday. He is currently recovering from a foot injury sustained during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. Sudharsan is undergoing rehab at the BCCI CoE, and his availability remains subject to fitness clearance from the medical team at the CoE.
Team India have arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming Test series! 🇮🇳🛬🇱🇰
The stage is set for an exciting battle between two cricketing nations. 🏏🔥#SLvIND #TestCricket #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/oOhK4ASzOo
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 4, 2026
Sri Lanka series crucial for India
The Test series against Sri Lanka is a crucial one for India as it will be their second assignment in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15, followed by the second Test in Colombo from August 23.
India are currently fifth in the WTC 2025-27 standings after four wins and as many defeats from nine matches in their campaign so far. Sri Lanka are placed right below them on the WTC table with one win, one loss, two draws and a win percentage of 41.67.
India are set to be without senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the series after he was ruled out of action due to a left knee injury. Bumrah was expected to make the cut for the two-match series, but he failed to do so as his left foot didn’t heal completely in time. He was replaced by Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi in India’s squad.
Nabi earned his maiden India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka series after a strong show in domestic cricket. He was the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last season with 60 wickets to his name and played a key role in helping Jammu & Kashmir lift their maiden title.
With 104 wickets in two last two Ranji Trophy seasons, Nabi has been one of the most consistent performers with the ball in the domestic circuit and has been rewarded for his hard work and consistency.