Archive · 6 Aug 2026
India intensify spin preparations ahead of Sri Lanka Test series
India's cricket team is getting ready to play two big Test matches against Sri Lanka.
They are practicing very hard to play spin bowling, which has been their weak spot recently.
India lost every match in home series against New Zealand and South Africa.
In their last Test, they needed only 124 runs to win but were all out for just 93.
Losing that game dropped them to fifth place in the World Test Championship.
The captain for this tour is Shubman Gill.
Sadly, their best fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, cannot play because of a knee injury.
The first Test starts on August 15 in Galle, and the second one starts on August 23 in Colombo.
Before the Tests, the team will play a three-day practice match in Colombo to get used to the conditions.
One player, Sai Sudharsan, is recovering from a toe injury and will join the team soon.
India's Shubman Gill-led squad held a three-hour spin-focused training session at Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo.
A three-day practice match will begin on Friday ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15.
Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the two-match series due to a left knee injury.
India sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings after home whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa.
Sai Sudharsan is finishing rehabilitation for a big toe niggle at the Centre of Excellence and is expected to join the squad by Saturday.
- Who
- The Indian men's Test team, led by captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, preparing to face Sri Lanka.
- What
- Intensified preparation for batting against spin, including a three-hour nets session and a three-day warm-up match, ahead of a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
- When
- Practice session on Wednesday; three-day practice match from Friday; first Test on August 15; second Test on August 23.
- Where
- Colombo and Galle in Sri Lanka.
- Why
- To overcome India's recent struggles against spin bowling, which contributed to home series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa and left them fifth in the World Test Championship standings.
- Series
- Two-match Test series: India vs Sri Lanka
- First Test
- August 15, Galle
- Second Test
- August 23, Colombo
- India captain
- Shubman Gill
- Key absence
- Jasprit Bumrah (left knee injury)
- WTC ranking
- India fifth, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh
- Warm-up match
- Three-day practice match from Friday at Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo
- Net bowlers
- Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian, Vipraj Nigam