elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage from Day 3 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.
Despite Shubman Gill’s injury, the Indian batting order, led by Devdutt Padikkal’s century, has managed to match the effort of the host in the first innings.
India will look to make the most of the deteriorating pitch to display its spin pedigree against the SLC XI. Stay tuned for live updates.
Match info:
Date: August 7-9, 2026
Time: 10 am start
Venue: NCC Ground, Colombo
India squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar
Sri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
SLC XI 200/6D – Tea
Sri Lanka has declared the innings with a lead of 206 runs at Tea. Ravindra Jadeja and Gurnoor Brar pick two wickets each while Siraj and Prasidh pick one apiece.
No Kuldeep Yadav today. Auqib Nabi only bowled five overs. Saransh and Manav remained wicketless as well.
Jadeja gets his second!
Nipun Dhananjaya comes down the track looking to smoke Jadeja down the ground. Misses the ball, and Jurel has it easy behind the wickets.
SLC XI 199/6 in 44.1 overs
SLC 165/5
Gurnoor Brar has struck again! Dug into the pitch, and Sonal Dinusha looks to pat it away but feathers it through to the keeper.
Sri Lanka five down now, Ramesh Mendis is the new batter.
SLC 144/4
Nipun Dhananjaya and Anjala Bandara have batted nicely, showing some good positive intent, but the partnership is over now! Lovely bowling from Ravindra Jadeja to find Bandara’s outside edge, and Yashasvi Jaiswal takes a good catch at slip.
SLC 107/3
Nishan Madushka has retired. Nipun Dhananjaya has come out to bat after the Lunch. Prasidh begins proceedings after the break.
SLC XI 106/3 at Lunch
Lunch has been taken. Both teams had their moments. India picked up three wickets — all by pacers. Only three overs of spin in this session. Auqib Nabi had his first outing today. He conceded 27 runs in his five overs without picking a wicket. For Sri Lanka, opener Nishan Madushka has looked good.
SLC XI 105/3
So, spinners are here. Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar have been introduced into the attack. At least one of them will be playing in the first Test. Manav had a great debut Test, and he is most likely to be spinner that plays.
SLC 87/3
Nishan Madushka has scored his fifty at almost run-a-ball! Really good batting, trying to be proactive from the ball one. Found the gaps consistently.
SLC XI 81/3
Gurnoor Brar picks up his first wicket. Pavan Rathnayake tries to take on Brar but is caught in the outfield. He falls after scoring 16 off 32 balls. Brar has been really impressive, bowling consistent lines.
SLC XI 62/2
The pacers haven’t got much support off the wicket. The runs are coming rather easily for Sri Lankans. Auqib Nabi bowling in early 130s but not much movement for him.
SLC 43/2
Auqib Nabi has come out to bowl for the first time in this match. He concedes one boundary towards the square region in his first over.
SLC XI 26/2
Prasidh Krishna strikes! Straight, full and Pasindu completely misses line of the delivery, leaving the middle stump cartwheeling. Pasindu four off seven balls.
Siraj strikes!!
First wicket down for Sri Lanka! Big appeal for lbw as the ball moves in a touch from good length. Height may have been an issue but the umpire raises his finger.
SLC XI 9/1 in 4.5 overs
No sign of Nabi
Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna return to take the new ball. The wait continues for Auqib Nabi, the injury replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. He is yet to deliver a ball in this warm-up contest.
Good morning!
India has declared at the overnight score of 357/6 against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. Nishan Fernando and Ravindu Rasantha walk out to open in the second innings.
