India Beat Sri Lanka XI by Six Wickets in Warm-up Match: Padikkal’s Century Sets the Tone Before the Galle Test

India couldn’t have asked for a much better dress rehearsal. Three days after being put in the field on a flat NCC pitch that offered nothing to their bowlers, Shubman Gill’s squad wrapped up their tour opener in Colombo with a comfortable six-wicket win over Sri Lanka Cricket XI, chasing down a target of 207 with 45 overs to spare and plenty of confidence to carry into the first Test at Galle.

It wasn’t a flawless three days by any means — the bowling group leaked runs on Day 1, and the captain himself missed the better part of the game with a finger niggle — but the overall picture by Sunday evening was exactly what a touring side wants heading into a series: runs on the board, useful overs bowled, and a couple of individual performances worth building on.

How the Match Unfolded

Sri Lanka XI set the tone on Day 1, racing to 363 for 8 declared in 90 overs after winning the toss and batting first. The Indian attack, without the injured Jasprit Bumrah and still finding its lengths this early into the tour, struggled to create pressure through the middle overs, though Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar all found the breakthroughs eventually, sharing six wickets between them.

India’s reply was where the match really turned. Devdutt Padikkal batted through practically the entire innings, reaching his century off 121 balls and going on to finish unbeaten on 142 as India closed Day 2 on 357 for 6 — just six runs behind the home side’s total, with the tail still to come. Shubman Gill, who’d been hit on the finger in the nets before a ball was bowled, sat out the entire second day as a precaution, leaving KL Rahul to continue leading the side in his absence.

With honours more or less even after two days, Sri Lanka declared their second innings at 200 for 6 in 45 overs on the final morning, setting India a target of 207. Nishan Madushka top-scored in that innings with 63, and useful contributions from Nipun Dhananjaya and wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara helped push the total to a level that at least gave the game a proper finish.

The Chase: Gill Returns, Siraj Finishes It in Style

Chasing 207 was never going to trouble this India batting line-up too much, but there were still a few things worth watching. Gill finally walked out to bat on the final day and got among the runs with 41, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hadn’t had the best of tour openers with the bat, found some rhythm with a knock of 61. Between them, India were always ahead of the required rate.

There was a small wobble in the final stretch — Gurnoor Brar fell for just 2, and India briefly found themselves needing 29 more with only a handful of wickets in hand — but Mohammed Siraj put any lingering tension to bed with a rapid 32 off 15 balls down the order, hitting the winning runs as India closed on 214 for 4 to complete the six-wicket win.

Match Snapshot

• Sri Lanka XI 1st innings: 363/8 declared (90 overs)
• India 1st innings: 357/6 declared — Devdutt Padikkal 142*, Ravindra Jadeja 50
• Sri Lanka XI 2nd innings: 200/6 declared (45 overs) — Nishan Madushka 63, Nipun Dhananjaya 46, Anjala Bandara 35
• India 2nd innings: 214/4 (45 overs) — Yashasvi Jaiswal 61, Shubman Gill 41, Mohammed Siraj 32*
• Result: India won by 6 wickets

Key Takeaways Before the Galle Test

A three-day warm-up game against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI was never going to replicate actual Test match pressure, but there’s still plenty for the team management to take from it heading into the series opener on August 15.

• Padikkal makes his case: A patient, controlled century against genuine tour-match bowling is exactly the kind of form a batter wants walking into a Test series, particularly with a middle-order spot still up for grabs.
• Gill’s fitness is the story to track: He came through his final-day innings without any visible discomfort, which should ease some of the worry after he missed most of the match with the finger issue.
• The bowling attack still needs sharpening: Conceding 363 in the first innings on a pitch offering little assistance is a reminder that lengths and discipline will need to improve fast once the series proper begins.
• Jaiswal and Siraj both found form at the right time: Jaiswal’s 61 and Siraj’s late cameo were exactly the kind of confidence-boosting contributions a touring squad wants before a Test series starts.

What’s Next

India now shift focus fully to the two-match Test series, starting with the opener at the Galle International Stadium on August 15, followed by the second Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo from August 23 to 27. With the warm-up game out of the way, the bigger questions — Gill’s finger, the makeup of the middle order, and how the bowling attack adjusts to Test-match intensity — will all start getting answered for real in Galle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who won the India vs Sri Lanka XI warm-up match?

India won by six wickets, chasing down a target of 207 with 214/4 in 45 overs.

Who was the standout performer for India in the warm-up match?

Devdutt Padikkal was the standout, scoring an unbeaten 142 in India’s first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (61) and Mohammed Siraj (32*) also made key contributions in the chase.

Did Shubman Gill play in the warm-up match?

Gill missed most of the match after being hit on the finger in the nets before the game, with KL Rahul leading the side in his absence. He returned to bat on the final day and scored 41.

What was Sri Lanka XI’s total in the warm-up match?

Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their first innings at 363/8 and their second innings at 200/6, setting India a target of 207.

When does the first Test between India and Sri Lanka start?

The first Test begins on August 15, 2026, at the Galle International Stadium, followed by the second Test in Colombo (SSC) from August 23 to 27.