Indian squad holds first net session at SSC Ground ahead of Colombo Test

The Indian squad held their first net session at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Friday, August 21, two days before the second Test against Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin. The session took place at the same venue where the match will be played, giving the players a chance to settle into the conditions at the SSC ahead of an important contest.

The BCCI shared pictures from the first net session from the SSC Ground in Colombo. The entire squad had been captured prepping for the all-important fixture, focusing on their core skills. Skipper Shubman Gill batted for a few balls, while bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain, who is slated to make his Test debut, was also seen practising spin bowling.

India's first Test performance in Galle

India arrive at the SSC leading the two-match Test series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by 165 runs between August 15 and 19, 2026. In that match, India posted 462 and 193, while Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284 and 206 while chasing a target of 372.

The second Test is scheduled to run from August 23 to 27, 2026, with play starting at 10:00 AM local time each day. The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle, making the result at the SSC significant for both sides in the standings.

Shubman Gill is captaining India for the series, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain. In the first Test at Galle, Devdutt Padikkal was among the standout performers with 211 runs across two innings at an average of 105.50, while Rahul contributed 117 runs at an average of 58.50.

On the bowling front, Manav Suthar was India's leading wicket-taker in the Galle Test, finishing with 10 wickets across two innings at an average of 13.10. Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets at an average of 24.25, and Gurnoor Brar claimed three wickets at an average of 28.66.

Before the Test series began, India also played a warm-up tour match against the SLC XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo from August 7 to 9, 2026. India won that match by six wickets, with the SLC XI declaring at 363 for 8 and 200 for 6, and India responding with a declared 357-6d and 214-4.

The SSC pitch has traditionally offered better early batting conditions compared to Galle, though it can slow down as the match progresses and bring spinners into the contest. India will be looking to seal the series when the second Test gets underway on Sunday, August 23.