Gill sidelined with finger injury as Sri Lanka XI reach 138/1

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill was sidelined on the first day of a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

Gill picked up an impact injury to his right ring finger during Thursday’s practice, and vice-captain KL Rahul took over as captain for the fixture.

Sri Lanka XI won the toss, opted to bat, and were 138 for 1 at lunch thanks to a solid opening stand from Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha.

India fielded Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, captain KL Rahul, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the warm-up XI.

The match forms part of India’s preparation for sub-continental conditions before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, 2026.

Gill’s injury will be monitored over the coming days to determine his availability for the remaining warm-up days and the first Test.

The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will be India’s first assignment on the tour, following which the squad’s schedule for the remainder of the year is expected to be finalised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

India’s playing XI for the warm-up fixture featured Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul as captain, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper, and Ravindra Jadeja among others.

The warm-up match is being used by India’s squad to acclimatise to sub-continental conditions ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15, 2026.

Gill, who was named India’s Test captain for the tour, is expected to be assessed over the coming days to determine his availability for the remainder of the three-day practice match and the Test series opener.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir is overseeing the young Indian squad’s preparations, with the tour marking an early assignment for several newer faces in the Test set-up.

Photo by CRICKETNEXT, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0