3 weeks ago

Kotak hails India's six-wicket warm-up win ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Kotak hails India's six-wicket warm-up win ahead of Sri Lanka Tests
IND vs SL 2026: Warm-up game helped India more than days of conventional training could, says Kotak · wionews.com

India's cricket team played a practice game, called a warm-up match, against a team called Sri Lanka XI.

A warm-up match is a friendly game teams play to get ready for real matches.

India played very well and won by six wickets, which means they reached the target score with plenty of batters still to bat.

A player named Devdutt Padikkal scored 142 runs without getting out, which is a very big score.

Shubman Gill came back to the team after an injury and scored 44 runs quickly.

Mohammed Siraj hit four big sixes and scored 32 runs very fast.

The batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, said the team bowled and batted with lots of energy.

He said the practice match was even better than regular training sessions.

This win gives the team confidence before their real matches, a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka that starts on August 15 at Galle.

Key facts

Result
India won by 6 wickets
Match type
Only warm-up/practice match against Sri Lanka XI at Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo
Sri Lanka XI first innings
363/8 declared
India first innings
357/6 declared
Sri Lanka XI second innings
200/6 declared
Target set
207 runs
Top scorer
Devdutt Padikkal 142* off 164 balls
Chase
Completed in 45 overs
Test series
Two matches starting August 15 at Galle

Quotes

Sitanshu Kotak

India batting coach

“"I think it was very good, very productive because if we practice four more days, I don't think it will be as good as the practice match because the bowlers bowled with good intensity. I think the batters batted well and we actually tried that everyone, even bowlers, get to bat and all the bowlers get enough loading what is required."”
rediff.com freepressjournal.in wionews.com
“I think Devdutt batted really well, the way Gurnoor also bowled, and our fast bowlers put a lot of effort on the wicket where there was nothing.”
freepressjournal.in

Sources

Related news