Gill sidelined, Rahul to lead
India faced an early setback during their three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI in Colombo, as captain Shubman Gill was ruled out for the opening day due to an injury. Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during a practice session on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he did not take the field, with KL Rahul stepping in to lead the team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team is monitoring Gill’s progress. This injury raises concerns ahead of the first ICC World Test Championship contest against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to commence on August 15. India has already been affected by other injuries, with Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to a knee injury for the Sri Lanka tour. Additionally, Harshit Rana (hamstring), Nitish Kumar Reddy (quad), and Washington Sundar (hamstring) are also currently unavailable.
The warm-up fixture provided an opportunity for various players to get game time. The India squad for the series includes Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan (fitness pending), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, and Auqib Nabi.
Bowlers gain rhythm in Colombo
Despite the early captaincy change, the India bowlers gradually found their rhythm during the warm-up match. After a humid morning, the conditions became more pleasant in the afternoon, contributing to a watchable period of cricket. Initially, the bowlers took some time to settle, but they eventually began to find their length, making the contest between bat and ball more engaging.
Among the bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav was particularly vocal, testing the middle order on a pitch that presented challenges for the bowlers. Other bowlers who featured included Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Manav Suthar. Saransh Jain also bowled, becoming the seventh bowler used on the day. The team management opted not to give Auqib Nabi, who joined as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, an opportunity to bowl, with Nabi instead on drinks duty.
The SLC XI posted a score of 363 for 8 at stumps on the opening day after 90 overs. Key contributions for the SLC XI came from Ravindu Rasantha, who scored 71, Nishan Fernando with 66, and Sonal Dinusha adding 52 runs. For India, the wickets were shared among the bowlers: Manav Suthar took 2/33, Ravindra Jadeja secured 2/64, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2/76, and Gurnoor Brar picked up 1/49.
There was also rotation behind the stumps, with Rishabh Pant initially wearing the gloves before Dhruv Jurel replaced him later in the day. The Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground, located near the venue for the second India-Sri Lanka Test, saw limited attendance for the three-day fixture. However, as India began to take wickets more regularly, the area around the members’ cafe and media desk became busier.
Series significance and fan presence
The two-match series between India and Sri Lanka holds importance for both teams in the race to reach the World Test Championship Final. Currently, India and Sri Lanka occupy fifth and sixth place, respectively, in the standings. The first Test is scheduled from August 15-19 in Galle, followed by the second Test from August 23-27 in Colombo.
During the warm-up match, a notable presence was Mohammed Nilam, a Sri Lankan super fan, who cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines. Dressed in an Indian cricket team training jersey, he supported the home side. Nilam, who has previously met Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ajinkya Rahane, maintained an unwavering love for Indian cricket while his heart remained with Sri Lanka. The presence of such fans, alongside a handful of NCC members, contributed to the atmosphere of the match.
The opening day’s play concluded with SLC XI at 363 for 8 after 90 overs, setting the stage for India’s batting on the second day.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
