COLOMBO: The Indian cricket team is setting its sight on crucial match practice ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The visitors face off against a Sri Lanka XI in a three-day warm-up fixture starting Friday at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

The three-day game, scheduled from August 7 to August 9, serves as an essential acclimatization opportunity for the Men in Blue. Following recent home Test series setbacks against New Zealand and South Africa where the Indian batting order struggled against quality spin, mastering subcontinental spinning conditions remains a priority.

Adapting to local tracks will be a major challenge for the young squad, as only a handful of senior players—namely KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav—have previous experience playing red-ball cricket on Sri Lankan soil. Captain Shubman Gill will look to use this warm-up clash to fine-tune team combinations and assess player readiness.

At the toss on Friday morning, Sri Lanka XI skipper Sonal Dinusha won the toss and elected to bat first, giving his side the early opportunity to test India’s bowling attack.

Here are the complete live broadcast and streaming details for cricket fans wishing to follow the practice match:

Match Schedule and Details

  • Fixture: India vs Sri Lanka XI (3-Day Practice Match)

  • Dates: August 7 to August 9, 2026

  • Venue: Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo

  • Match Timing: 10:00 AM IST (Toss at 9:30 AM IST)

Where to Watch Live Telecast and Streaming in India

  • Live Telecast: The India vs Sri Lanka XI warm-up match will be broadcast live across the Sony Ten Sports Network television channels.

  • Live Streaming: Fans can stream the full match live online via the SonyLIV application and official website.

Squads

India: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar.

Sri Lanka XI: Sonal Dinusha (C), Nishan Madushka (WK), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha.