Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Kotak praises productive warm-up win ahead of Sri Lanka Tests
India's cricket team played a practice game in Colombo, Sri Lanka, before a series of two Test matches against Sri Lanka.
India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, said the practice game was very useful.
He said it was better than practicing in the nets for four more days.
India won the game by six wickets.
They had to chase 207 runs and finished the job on the last day.
Most of the bowlers bowled around 18 to 20 overs, which gave them good practice.
Almost every player got a turn to bat too.
A player named Mohammed Siraj hit three sixes in a row to finish the game.
The coach was happy with how the team used their time.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised the three-day warm-up game in Colombo, calling it more 'productive' than four more days of nets practice.
India beat SLC XI by six wickets, chasing down a 207-run target in the final session of day three.
All of India's bowlers bowled nearly 18-20 overs except Auqib Nabi, who bowled just five.
All available players got a chance to bat except Auqib Nabi and Prasidh.
Mohammed Siraj sealed the win for India with a hat-trick of sixes.
- Who
- India national cricket team, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and players including Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi and Prasidh
- What
- India beat SLC XI by six wickets in a three-day warm-up match, chasing a 207-run target sealed by Mohammed Siraj's hat-trick of sixes
- When
- Ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka (specific dates not stated in the article)
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Why
- To prepare for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which coach Kotak said was more productive than nets practice
- Match
- India vs SLC XI (three-day warm-up)
- Result
- India won by six wickets
- Target chased
- 207 runs
- Venue
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Bowling workload
- Nearly 18-20 overs per bowler, except Auqib Nabi (5 overs)
- Players who did not bat
- Auqib Nabi and Prasidh
- Match-winner
- Mohammed Siraj with a hat-trick of sixes
- Upcoming series
- Two-Test series against Sri Lanka