India warm-up cut to 3 days before Sri Lanka Test series in August
Synopsis
Sri Lanka Cricket has quietly cut India's warm-up match by a day — no reason given, no board named. With Bumrah on a fitness watch and Jadeja returning to Tests for the first time since November 2025, every day of match practice matters. The three-day game at NCC Grounds from 7 August is now the only preparation buffer before the Galle Test on 15 August.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka Cricket reduced India's warm-up match from four days to three days , starting 7 August at the NCC Grounds, Colombo .
The Indian squad is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on 4 August .
The first Test is at Galle International Cricket Stadium from 15–19 August ; the second Test at SSC Stadium, Colombo from 23–27 August .
Ravindra Jadeja returns to red-ball cricket for the first time since November 2025 after a tennis elbow injury.
Jasprit Bumrah's participation is subject to fitness clearance after an injury during the England ODI series.
Saransh Jain receives his maiden Test call-up after Washington Sundar was ruled out with a hamstring strain.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed a revision to the fixture schedule for India's upcoming two-Test tour, trimming the pre-series warm-up match from four days to three days. The change was announced on Saturday, 1 August, ahead of the squad's planned arrival in the island nation on 4 August.
Warm-Up Details
The three-day warm-up fixture is set to begin on 7 August at the NCC Grounds, Colombo. SLC confirmed the change in an official statement but did not specify the reason for the reduction or which of the two boards — BCCI or SLC — initiated the request.
Test Match Schedule
The first Test will be held at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from 15 to 19 August, while the second Test moves to the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Stadium, Colombo, scheduled from 23 to 27 August. The series marks India's first red-ball assignment in Sri Lanka since their last bilateral visit.
Squad Highlights
Shubman Gill leads the 15-man squad as captain, with KL Rahul named vice-captain. The most notable inclusions are the returns of veteran spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja — back in red-ball cricket for the first time since November 2025 after recovering from a tennis elbow injury sustained during IPL 2026 — and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, whose participation is subject to fitness clearance following an injury during India's recent ODI series in England.
Maiden Call-Up for Saransh Jain
Offspin all-rounder Saransh Jain has earned his maiden Test call-up. His inclusion was facilitated by the unavailability of Washington Sundar, who is recovering from a right hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Lord's ODI and kept him out of contention for the first Test.
Full Squad
India's squad for the two-Test series: 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. (*Availability subject to fitness clearance.)
With Bumrah and Jadeja both on conditional availability, India's final playing combination for the Galle Test will likely crystallise only after the warm-up game concludes on 9 August.
Point of View
But the timing is anything but. India head into this series with two of their most influential players — Bumrah and Jadeja — on conditional fitness status, making every hour of match simulation critical. The unexplained reduction, with neither board named as the initiator, raises quiet questions about scheduling priorities. If Bumrah misses the first Test at Galle, a ground that historically rewards spin and swing, India's bowling depth will face an early examination — and a three-day warm-up offers a thinner margin for error than four.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has India's warm-up match in Sri Lanka been reduced to three days?
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the reduction from four days to three days in an official statement on 1 August, but did not provide a reason or identify which board requested the change. The three-day fixture will be played at the NCC Grounds, Colombo, starting 7 August.
When does India's two-Test series against Sri Lanka begin?
The first Test starts on 15 August at the Galle International Cricket Stadium and runs until 19 August. The second Test is scheduled from 23 to 27 August at the SSC Stadium in Colombo.
Is Jasprit Bumrah playing in the Sri Lanka Test series?
Bumrah has been named in India's 15-man squad but his availability is subject to fitness clearance. He picked up an injury during India's recent ODI series in England and has not yet been confirmed for the first Test.
Why has Saransh Jain been called up for the India Test squad?
Saransh Jain received his maiden Test call-up primarily because Washington Sundar is unavailable — Sundar is recovering from a right hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Lord's ODI. Jain, an offspin all-rounder, fills that spin-bowling all-rounder slot.
When is Ravindra Jadeja returning to Test cricket?
Ravindra Jadeja is set to return to red-ball cricket for the first time since November 2025, having missed the intervening period due to a tennis elbow injury sustained during IPL 2026. He has been named in the squad for both Tests against Sri Lanka.
