Team India are set to begin their preparations for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka with a three-day warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI in Colombo. The practice fixture, scheduled from August 7 to August 9, will provide Shubman Gill and his squad with valuable match practice before the highly anticipated two-Test series that forms part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The contest is expected to play a key role in helping the visitors acclimatise to Sri Lankan conditions, especially the spin-friendly surfaces they are likely to encounter during the Test series. With India aiming to climb the WTC standings, every opportunity to fine-tune their preparations will be crucial.
Warm-up game offers ideal platform ahead of WTC challenge
The three-day fixture comes at an important stage of India’s WTC campaign. The visitors currently occupy fifth place in the WTC 2025-27 standings, having registered four victories, suffered four defeats and played one drawn Test from their opening nine matches.
Having already completed half of their scheduled six Test series in the current cycle, India still have significant assignments ahead, including an away series against New Zealand and a home showdown against Australia after the Sri Lanka tour. A positive result in Sri Lanka could significantly strengthen their hopes of securing a top-two finish and earning another appearance in the World Test Championship final.
India have enjoyed considerable success against Sri Lanka in Test cricket over the years and have not lost a Test series to the island nation since 2008. That impressive record will provide confidence to the visitors, even though recent performances against quality spin attacks have exposed certain vulnerabilities in their batting line-up.
The practice game also holds added significance because it will be only India’s second red-ball outing of the calendar year. Their only previous Test appearance this year came in the one-off home Test against Afghanistan, making this match an essential opportunity for batters and bowlers alike to rediscover their rhythm in the longer format.
Following the warm-up fixture, India will travel to Galle for the opening Test, which will be played from August 15 to 19. The second and final Test of the series is scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
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Broadcast and live streaming details for India vs SLC XI practice match
Cricket fans in India will be able to watch the three-day warm-up encounter live on the Sony Sports Network. The match will be telecast on Sony Ten 1, with coverage beginning at 10:00 AM IST on each of the three match days.
Viewers who prefer to watch online can stream the action live through the Sony LIV platform. A valid Sony LIV subscription will be required to access the live broadcast of the practice match.
Although the fixture does not carry official Test status, it is expected to attract significant interest as supporters get their first glimpse of India’s preparations under Shubman Gill ahead of an important overseas assignment. With players looking to cement their places in the playing XI and adapt to Sri Lankan conditions, the warm-up clash promises to offer valuable insights before the Test series gets underway.
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